Staci's Place: No More Bullies!
Cyberbullying Advice and Tips
What do I do if I am being bullied online? What do I
do if my child is being bullied online?
There are a number of different online
scenarios that can lead to bullying. I have been bullied online myself, and
while I was working at the ISP once owned by Tucows during the 1990's, I was
the principal staff member responsible for dealing with abuse complaints. As
iDirect's Abuse Administrator, I dealt with a number of different online
bullies and their unfortunate targets. As such, I have a lot of experience,
but I am not a
lawyer. The advice I give should be considered as "for information purposes
only". Only you can decide what you want to do in the end. I do recommend
that you also connect with local police and a lawyer and seek their advice,
particularly where threats of violence are involved.
That being said .. let's look at the two
different kinds of cyberbullying and tactics for dealing with them.
Stranger to Stranger Cyberbullying is the most common type of online
bullying I have witnessed. It usually occurs between strangers who either
meet online, in discussion groups, or arises because the bully objects to
something said on a blog or web page. Or at least, that is the excuse this
kind of bully will use to justify their behavior. The truth of the matter
can be more complex. Regardless of the "reason", once it happens, the victim
usually responds in kind. Once that occurs, both parties can end up locked
in an escalating tit-for-tat dispute that can last an incredibly long time.
Peer
Abuse Cyberbullying is one of the most cowardly forms of social
abuse and can take a number of forms. Adult peer abusers are often
relatives, loved ones and former love partners. There has been an alarming
growth in the reports of child-to-child peer abuse online because of the
ease of posting and perceptions of anonymity.
