Tackling cyberbullying
Mobile, Internet and wireless technologies have increased the pace of communication and brought benefits to users worldwide. But their popularity provides increasing opportunities for misuse through 'cyberbullying'. It's crucial that children and young people, who are particularly skilful at adapting to new technology, use their mobiles and the Internet safely and positively, and that they are aware of the consequences of misuse. School staff, parents and young people have to be constantly vigilant and work together to prevent this form of bullying and tackle it wherever it appears.

The advent of cyberbullying adds new dimensions to the problem of bullying. Unlike other forms of bullying, cyberbullying can follow children and young people into their private spaces and outside school hours; there is no safe haven for the person being bullied. Cyberbullies can communicate their messages to a wide audience with remarkable speed, and can often remain unseen and unidentifiable.

What is cyberbullying?
Research commissioned by the Anti-Bullying Alliance from Goldsmiths College, University of London, identifies seven categories of cyberbullying:

Text message bullyinginvolves sending unwelcome texts that are threatening or cause discomfort.

• Picture/video-clip bullying via mobile phone cameras is used to make the person being bullied feel threatened or embarrassed, with images usually sent to other people. 'Happy slapping' involves filming and sharing physical attacks.
• Phone call bullying via mobile phone uses silent calls or abusive messages. Sometimes the bullied person's phone is stolen and used to harass others, who then think the phone owner is responsible. As with all mobile phone bullying, the perpetrators often disguise their numbers, sometimes using someone else's phone to avoid being identified.
• Email bullying uses email to send bullying or threatening messages, often using a pseudonym for anonymity or using someone else's name to pin the blame on them.
  Chat room bullying involves sending menacing or upsetting responses to children or young people when they are in a web-based chat room.
• Bullying through instant messaging (IM) is an Internet-based form of bullying where children and young people are sent unpleasant messages as they conduct real-time conversations online.
• Bullying via websites includes the use of defamatory blogs (web logs), personal websites and online personal polling sites. There has also been a significant increase in social networking sites for young people, which can provide new opportunities for cyberbullying.

Who is most vulnerable?
Because of the anonymity that new communications technologies offer, anyone with a mobile phone or Internet connection can be a target for cyberbullying. What's more, bullies can reach much larger numbers within a peer group than they can with conventional bullying. Vindictive comments posted on a website, for instance, can be seen by a large audience, as can video clips sent by mobile phone.

Most cyberbullying is done by students in the same class or year group. Although it leaves no visible scars, cyberbullying of all types can be extremely destructive.

What can you do about it?
While other forms of bullying remain prevalent, cyberbullying is already a significant issue for many young people. School staff, parents and young people need to work together to prevent this and to tackle it whenever it occurs.

If you're a school governor or headteacher

Schools have a duty to ensure that:

• bullying via mobile phone or the Internet is included in their mandatory anti-bullying policies, that these policies are regularly updated, and that teachers have sufficient knowledge to deal with cyberbullying in school
• the curriculum teaches pupils about the risks of new communications technologies, the consequences of their misuse, and how to use them safely
• all e-communications used on the school site or as part of school activities off-site are monitored
• clear policies are set about the use of mobile phones at school and at other times when young people are under the school's authority
• Internet blocking technologies are continually updated and harmful sites blocked
  they work with pupils and parents to make sure new communications technologies are used safely, taking account of local and national guidance and good practice
• security systems are in place to prevent images and information about pupils and staff being accessed improperly from outside school
• they work with police and other partners on managing cyberbullying.

A key way of supporting children who are being bullied is to establish good links between schools and counselling organisations.

Make sure parents are kept informed of the school standards and policies so that they can be applied at home as well as at school. Ensure that parents know about schools' rights to monitor their child's e-communications.

Research recommends that young people themselves should be involved in developing new anti-bullying strategies.

• Becta (www.becta.org.uk) has invaluable information on devising and communicating school Internet safety policies.
• The DfES's bullying site www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying has useful information and resources for parents and families, young people and teachers, including ideas for schools to consider to combat bullying.
• www.antibullying.net/cyberbullying1.htm has suggestions for a code of conduct for schools to introduce to pupils.
  

If you're a member of staff

Make sure you're familiar with your role and responsibilities in:

• teaching children safe Internet etiquette
• applying school policy in monitoring electronic messages and images
• giving pupils key guidance on:
  - personal privacy rights
  - material posted on any electronic platform
  - photographic images
• taking action if a pupil is being cyberbullied or is bullying someone else
• teaching pupils the value of e-communications and the risks and consequences of improper use, including the legal implications

Keep up a dialogue with parents about emerging technologies their child might be using.

Ensure parents know what steps to take if they suspect that their child is being cyberbullied or is bullying someone else.

Secondary school teachers can download an information pack from www.stoptextbully.com including a classroom quiz, poster and top tips to help tackle cyberbullying.

• www.childnet-int.org has a DVD for secondary schools about keeping safe in online chat rooms. They are currently distributing free Internet safety leaflets for parents to primary schools. Order at www.childnet-int.org/order.
• www.cybersmartcurriculum.org has lesson plans for teachers on dealing with online bullies.
• The Kidscape booklet 'Don't Bully Me!' gives advice to primary school children on what to do if they are bullied. www.kidscape.org.

If you're a parent
Cyberbullying in all its forms should be stopped. No one should be subjected to it, least of all your child.

Don't wait for something to happen before you act. Make sure your child understands how to use these technologies safely and knows about the risks and consequences of misusing them.
Make sure they know what to do if they or someone they know are being cyberbullied.
Encourage your child to talk to you if they have any problems with cyberbullying. If they do have a problem, contact the school, the mobile network or the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to do something about it.

Parental control software can limit who your child sends emails to and who he or she receives them from. It can also block access to some chat rooms.

Moderated chat rooms are supervised by trained adults. Your Internet service provider will tell you whether they provide moderated chat services. Visit www.nch.org.uk for more information on Internet safety.

Further information is available on TeacherNet's bullying pages.