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Sources:
Tony Jurich, 785-532-1488, jurich@k-state.edu;
and Mike Ribble, 785-532-2758, mribble@k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/jurichbio.html
News release prepared by: Sara Shellenberger, 785-532-6415,
media@k-state.edu
Thursday,
October 26, 2006
K-STATE
EXPERTS DISCUSS COMBATING CYBERBULLYING
MANHATTAN
-- Bullies have emerged in cyberspace and are striking across the
country, able to steal a child's pride instead of lunch money, according
to experts at Kansas State University.
"Cyberbullying
consists of a person who uses the anonymity of the Internet to ridicule,
make fun of or put down another person on an Internet conversation
site, such as a chat room, a bulletin board, Myspace or Facebook,"
said Tony Jurich, K-State professor of family studies and human
services.
"The
victim may be an active participant in the conversation site or
may be quite unaware that he or she is being victimized. Cyberbullying
can be done by friends, acquaintances or total strangers, although
it is typically someone who at least knows the victim," he
said.
While
the act of bullying is nothing new, the cyberbully has certain advantages
over the traditional bully, Jurich said.
"At
the heart of any bully is actually a coward who uses their advantage
to humiliate, demean or embarrass. Instead of working on their own
issues, bullies pick on others to feel better about themselves,"
he said. "The difference is the cyberbully gets more coverage
and a wider exposure. One catty remark can hit thousands of people
in a very short amount of time."
This
increased exposure can make it difficult for victims of cyberbullying,
Jurich said.
"To
challenge someone after being put down online takes courage,"
he said. "Kids think, 'It's already out there and I can't do
anything about it.' They often feel helpless."
In
addition to increased exposure, the Internet also provides a degree
of safety to cyberbullies.
"In
person, a bully must deal with feedback in the form of body language,
eye contact, etc.," Jurich said. "But through cyberspace,
you benefit from the safety of isolation. Cyberbullying takes the
face off a person -- you never see the tears."
However,
the benefits of cyberspace can quickly turn problematic for the
cyberbully.
"It's
easy to write the first thing that comes into your head and then
hit send before thinking of the long-term consequences," said
Mike Ribble, instructor in the department of educational leadership
and instructional services coordinator/Web coordinator in the College
of Education. "Users forget, however, that even though they
may delete a message, it is usually stored on a server or backup
for future review. So, users need to think about what they say."
Ribble
teaches the K-State course, Digital Citizenship in the 21st Century.
"To
a degree, the cover is an illusion," Jurich said. "Once
you post a remark, you have no control over where it will go, so
you're also more vulnerable. Remarks can easily get back to a person
which can perpetuate the animosity."
To
combat cyberbullying, it must be addressed at home, in school and
through society as a whole, according to Jurich and Ribble.
"Parents must equip their children with skills to deal with
bullying appropriately," Jurich said. "Students should
be smart about what they reveal. The less information that a child
or adolescent puts out on the Internet, the safer they will most
likely be, but it is no guarantee. Even if kids would turn off their
computers, they can still be victimized by cyberbullies who use
the Internet to ridicule them for something that happened at school.
"So,
it is important that children know the steps to take if they are
a victim of cyberbullying. Communicate the importance of printing
a hard copy of an insulting remark and make your children aware
of the proper authorities to alert, such as other parents, teachers
or even the police," Jurich said.
Schools
also must take an active role in combating cyberbullying, according
to Ribble.
"In
the past, it was up to parents and families to teach basic etiquette
to their children before they reached school," he said. "The
problem with the new technologies is that parents have not been
informed about what is appropriate behavior, so very often parents
are also learning from their peers.
"As
a digital society, it is time that school technology teams decide
what they consider appropriate and what is not. Schools must also
help students understand the concept -- 'I'm given rights; I have
a responsibility to myself and society to act in a certain way,'"
Ribble said.
Finally,
society as a whole must take steps to eliminate cyberbullying, according
to Ribble.
"As
a society, we can't push technology aside and say these problems
don't exist," he said. "We have to recognize the potential
danger that could lie in the future if we do not prepare for the
next generation. Technology has the potential to bring people together,
but it also has the ability to divide."
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