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= __**BULLYING IN SCHOOLS AND CYBERBULLYING**__ =



Bullying can start at a very young age and the effects of bullying can be drastic. Bullying can have a lifelong effect and alter a child's personality for years or even permanently. Some symptoms that can come about from bullying include low self-esteem, health problems, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Physical and verbal bullying in schools could be dealt with by having the bully's and "targets" meet and discuss their issues, but with the new age of technology having arrived, bullying has moved into the world of cyberspace and a new form of bullying has been formed, [|Cyberbullying]. Children are now using cell phones, computers via Chat, and websites like facebook and myspace to bully each other.

There are many definitions to bullying but all bullying contains the following elements, the bully having aggressive behavior that involves unwanted negative attention, it involves an imbalance of power, and involves a pattern of behavior that is repeated over time. There are a number of types of bullying including, physical, verbal, and racial bullying. Many children and even adults bully for different reasons. They may bully another because they want to feel superior and feel like they are in power. Others may bully because they feel some sort of satisfaction from causing injury or suffering on another. There are many partipants in the circle of bullying including, students who bully, followers, supporters or passive bullies, passive supporters or possible bullies, disengaged onlookers, possible defenders, and defenders.
 * WHAT IS BULLYING?**
 * Students who bully: They want to bully and initiate the bullying
 * Followers: Take an active part but do not initiate bullying
 * Supproters/Passive Bullies: Actively and openingly support the bullying through laughter or calling attention but do not join in
 * Passive Supporters/Possible Bullies: They like the bullying but do not show signs of support
 * Disengaged onlookers: Do not get involved and do not take a stand (It's none of my business attitue)
 * Possible Defenders: They dislike bullying and think they should help but do not help
 * Defenders: They dislike the bullying and help or try to help the victim(s)

With easy access to computers, the internet, and cell phones, anybody can become a bully or become a victim of bullying. Websites like myspace and facebook allow anyone to create a account and give anyone a chance to bully another anonymously openly. Cyberbullying, like bullying involves an imbalance of power, aggression, and negative action towards another. There are six common forms of online/cyberbullying: harassment, denigration, flaming, impersonation outing and trickery, cyber stalking. Social websites like facebook and myspace, as well as chat sites (AIM, googlechat) can be the stomping grounds in which bully's find their victims and terrorize them. There have been many stories that have surfaced of children as young as thirteen years old who commit suicide becase they have been bullied. Take for example [|Megan Meier], a thirteen year old child with low self-esteem who was befriended by a former friends mother through a fictitious profile. Trust was gained between the two but than things turned hostile between Megan and the fictitous profile maker. Megan Meier's could not handle the disappointment and devastation that occurred between that two. Megan hanged herself in her closet and died a day later. There is also the story of [|Phoebe Prince], she was bullied through text messages, facebook, and other social websites, her story also ends in tradegy. Not all stories about cyberbullying end in death, but children and adults need to be aware of the effects of what they say and do. In the new age of technology, it is much harder to monitor what anyone is doing online, so being a bully is more accesible and can be more anonymous.
 * BULLYING GOING INTO CYBERSPACE**

Parents need to make it aware what is out there in cyberspace. They need to caution their children about what can/could happen on the interent, even seemingly harmless friend websites like myspace and facebook. If anyone you know or you yourself are being bullied, make it known. Tell someone. Children need to be aware that there are people out in the world who get satisfaction from seeing someone suffer.
 * PREVEN**[[image:http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/04-05-wt2/www/D_Jackson/media/nocyberbullying.jpg width="221" height="204" align="left"]]**T BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING**[[image:http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4693439/nobullyzone-main_Full.jpg width="185" height="250" align="right"]]

Parents, teachers, and responsible adult s should be aware of the signs that come from bullying and cyberbulling. They should also teach students how to be internet savvy, such as never revealing passwords or given out personal information.

Create outreach programs at school addressing bullying and cyberbullying and make sure to address how to stay safe while using the internet.

RELATED SITES [] [] [|Ten Tips to Prevent Bullying] [|Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use] [] [|Education World: Bullying]