欺凌可以发生在任何地方——学校、操场、上下学途中等。虽然许多学校都有反欺凌政策，但技术已将其提升到新的水平。网络欺凌(Cyberbullying)是欺凌者和被欺凌者利用现代技术的方法。网络欺凌的最坏影响是，被欺负的人在任何地方都没有安全感——即使是在他们的家里。
互联网(Internet)提供的匿名性助长了网络欺凌者。让我们看看什么是网络欺凌，它如何影响人们，如何预防它，以及在哪里报告网络欺凌。
什么是网络欺凌
欺凌(Bullying)主要与学童有关。欺凌一词包括以下一项或多项：
- 通过使用体力对被欺负者造成一些伤害——推搡受害者等等。
- 使用口头威胁在孩子内心制造恐惧
- 戏弄、辱骂和不恰当的基于性别/性别的评论
- 社会(Social)欺凌，例如抵制特定的人，要求其他人不要与他或她说话
- 在别人面前取笑孩子，让被欺负者感到紧张并切断社交
上述列表并未涵盖所有可能的欺凌形式。除非造成严重的人身伤害或违反任何法律，否则上述行为也不构成犯罪。因此，执法当局将其留给家长和学校来检查欺凌行为。
网络欺凌也是如此。唯一与上述不同的是，它涉及互联网(Internet)、计算机和智能手机。
阅读(Read)：儿童、学生和青少年的在线安全提示(Online Safety Tips for Kids, Students and Teens)。
网络欺凌的一些例子
- 使用SMS(SMS)、WhatsApp或任何其他信使服务的威胁
- 使用社交媒体制造受欺负者的负面形象
- 使用通过电子邮件发送的图像/文本对被欺负者造成压力
- 在社交媒体和论坛上取笑某个人
- 创建和使用虚假资料使受欺凌者难堪
欺凌(Bullying)使欺凌者自信。这给了他一定的信心，让他或她感到强大，并且可以控制。在某些情况下，这可能只是对另一个人的报复，并相信他们是安全的，不会被抓到。这就是为什么这样的人参与欺凌。
一般来说，被欺负者会一遍又一遍地成为目标，直到他或她开始害怕周围的一切。同样(Again)，执法当局不会在网络欺凌的情况下采取太多行动，因为只要没有严重的身体暴力或试图羞辱儿童，它就不是犯罪行为。学校和家长最多会请辅导员帮助欺凌者和被欺凌者。
网络欺凌的影响
虽然地面欺凌的影响可能会导致回避一个人或学校，但网络欺凌的影响却很深远。如前所述，被欺负的人可能在任何地方都没有安全感。这个人即使在他或她的房子里也会害怕，尽管父母可能在家。网络欺凌的明显症状是：
- (Child)大多数时候孩子看起来很沉思
- 缺乏社交
- 怕电话
- 成绩下降
- 对他或她曾经热衷的事物失去兴趣
- 缺乏睡眠
- 受害者脸上可见惊恐
- 丧失自尊。
网络欺凌的影响可能会变得更严重：无法解释的焦虑、慢性抑郁（对任何事情缺乏兴趣，孩子一直呆在房间里）、恐慌和恐惧等。如果父母发现任何此类症状，他们必须采取孩子立即去找辅导员。
如何防止网络欺凌
可以采取的最简单的方法是远离欺凌者并忽略此人。但由于网络欺凌是通过互联网(Internet)媒介发生的，受害者是儿童或年轻人，因此很难走上这条道路。家长和学校需要介入以防止网络欺凌。学校(Schools)和学院应制定积极的反欺凌政策。如果发现此类病例，学校应通过治疗师进行咨询。您需要意识到受害者和欺凌者都需要咨询。
为了防止网络欺凌，美国联邦政府建议密切关注您孩子的行为。它说你必须：
- (Restrict)通过阻止某些网站来限制对Internet的访问(Internet)
- 允许基于时间的冲浪和移动使用
- 使用任何软件查看(Check)孩子的活动
- 随身携带孩子账户的密码，不时使用它来检查孩子在网上的所有行为
- 阻止(Block)可能骚扰您孩子的人
为此有很多计划。有微软自己的家庭安全计划。您可以使用为最新版本的Windows开发的众多免费家长控制(free parental controls)之一。此外，还有一些DNS提供商可以很好地控制您孩子的浏览。您可能想查看OpenDNS提供的功能。
我想补充一点，您还必须教育您的孩子了解欺凌者，如果他们开始害怕欺凌者，他们会遭受怎样的痛苦，并且一旦在线或离线发生任何事情，请立即通知您。(I would like to add that you also have to educate your children about bullies, how the bullied suffer if they start fearing the bullies, and to inform you as soon as anything happens online or offline.)
如何报告网络欺凌
执法(Law)机关将介入以下情况：
- 对被欺负者造成严重(Severe)的身体伤害
- 使用色情信息或侵犯儿童隐私（厕所等）
您也可以举报其他形式的网络欺凌，但他们不会做太多事情。如果可能，他们可能会警告欺凌者。
这里是在其他情况下报告网络欺凌的地方：
- ISP 和移动服务提供商(ISP and mobile service provider)-将网络欺凌通知(Inform)您的ISP和移动服务提供商，以便他们阻止或警告欺凌者
- 社交媒体网站(Social media sites)——如果欺凌者使用Facebook等社交媒体，您必须向Facebook Invigilators举报；通常，Facebook 上(Facebook)的每个帖子都带有一个下拉菜单，可让您直接举报
- 论坛和其他网站(Forums and other websites)- 您必须联系网站管理员和论坛管理员来阻止恶霸
- 学校当局(School authorities)——如前所述，学校/学院应制定预防网络欺凌的政策；学校可以使用这些政策来警告或劝告欺凌者
以下是一些您可以寻求帮助的组织：(Here are some organizations where you can seek help:)
stompoutbullying.org | iheartmob.org | 危机文本线.org | onlinesosnetwork.org | Cybersmile.org | 网络公民权利.org。
请查看这个面向家长的互动式反欺凌工具(Interactive Anti-Bullying Tool for Parents)。您可能还想联系欺凌者的父母，告诉他们他们孩子（欺凌者）的行为。 如果您发现事情失控，请咨询当地执法部门。(Please)
What is Cyberbullying? How to prevent and report it?
Bullying can take place anywherе – in ѕсhools, playgrounds, during transit to and from school, etc. While many schools have anti-bullying policies, technologу has taken it tо new levels. Cyberbullying is the method where the bullies and the bullied make use of modern technology. The worst effect of cyberbullying is that the one being bullied does not feel safe anywhere – not even in their house.
The Internet provides anonymity that emboldens cyberbullies. Let’s check out what is cyberbullying, how it affects people, how to prevent it, and where to report cyberbullying.
What is Cyberbullying
Bullying is mostly associated with school kids. The word bullying includes one or more of the below:
- Doing some harm to the bullied by using physical power – pushing the victims around, etc.
- Creating fear inside kids using verbal threats
- Teasing, name-calling and inappropriate sex/gender-based comments
- Social bullying such as boycotting a specific person, asking others not to talk to him or her
- Making fun of a child in front of others so that the bullied feels nervous and cuts off socializing
The above list does not cover all the possible forms of bullying. Neither does the above constitute a crime unless there is severe physical harm done or any law is breached. As such, law enforcement authorities leave it to parents and schools to check bullying.
The same is the case with cyberbullying. The only way it is different from the above is that it involves Internet, computers, and smartphones.
Read: Online Safety Tips for Kids, Students and Teens.
Some examples of cyberbullying
- Threats using SMS, WhatsApp or any other messenger services
- Using social media to create a negative image of the bullied
- Creating stress on bullied, using images/text sent via emails
- Making fun of a certain person on social media and in forums
- Creating and using fake profiles to embarrass the bullied
Bullying makes the bully confident. It gives him a dose of confidence and makes him or her feel powerful, and in control. In some cases, it may be simply a case of revenge against another and believe that they are safe and won’t get caught. That is why such people engage in bullying.
Generally, the bullied is targeted over and over until he or she starts fearing everything around. Again, the law enforcement authorities won’t do much in the case of cyberbullying as it is not a crime as long as there is no severe physical violence or an attempt to dishonor the child. At most, the schools and parents will bring in counselors to help both the bully and the bullied.
Effects of Cyberbullying
While effects of ground bullying may result in avoiding a person or school, the effects of cyberbullying reach far. As said earlier, the person being bullied may not feel safe anywhere. The person would be afraid even in his or her house, though the parents may be at home. The visible symptoms of cyberbullying are:
- Child looking pensive most of the times
- Lack of socializing
- Afraid of phones
- Drop in grades
- Losing interests in things that he or she was passionate once
- Lack of sleep
- Fright visible on the victim’s face
- Loss of self-esteem.
The effects of cyberbullying can get more serious: unexplained anxiety, chronic depression (lack of interest in anything and the child keeps to his or her room all the time), panic and fear, etc. If parents notice any such symptoms, they must take the child immediately to a counselor.
How to prevent cyberbullying
The easiest path that could be taken is to stay away from the bully and ignore the person. But since cyberbullying takes place via the medium of the Internet and the victims are children or young adults, it would be a difficult path to follow. Parents and schools need to step in to prevent cyberbullying. Schools and colleges should have an active anti-bullying policy. If such cases are found, schools should invoke counseling via therapists. You need to be aware that both the victim and the bully need counseling.
Coming to the prevention of cyberbullying, the US federal government recommends keeping an eye on what your child is doing. It says you have to:
- Restrict access to the Internet by blocking certain websites
- Allow time-based surfing and mobile usage
- Check into the activities of the children using any software
- Keep the password of the child account with you and using it once in a while to check what all the child does online
- Block people who may be harassing your kids
There are many programs to this end. There is Microsoft’s own Family Safety Program. You can use one of the many free parental controls developed for recent versions of Windows. Also, there are DNS providers that provide good control of your child’s browsing. You may want to check out the features provided by OpenDNS.
I would like to add that you also have to educate your children about bullies, how the bullied suffer if they start fearing the bullies, and to inform you as soon as anything happens online or offline.
How to report Cyberbullying
Law enforcement authorities will step in the following cases:
- Severe physical damage to the bullied
- Usage of sexually explicit messages, or invasion of a child’s privacy (toilets, etc.)
You might report other forms of cyberbullying as well, but there is not much they will do. They might warn the person bullying, if possible.
Here the places to report cyberbullying in other cases:
- ISP and mobile service provider – Inform your ISP and mobile service provider about the cyberbully so that they can block or warn the bully
- Social media sites – if the bully is using social media like Facebook, you have to report it to Facebook Invigilators; normally, each post on Facebook comes with a drop-down menu that allows you to report directly
- Forums and other websites – You’ll have to contact the webmasters and forum admin to stop the bullies
- School authorities – As said earlier, there should be policies in schools/colleges for prevention of cyberbullying; schools can use those policies to warn or counsel the bully
Here are some organizations where you can seek help:
stompoutbullying.org | iheartmob.org | crisistextline.org | onlinesosnetwork.org | cybersmile.org | cybercivilrights.org.
Do check out this Interactive Anti-Bullying Tool for Parents. You may also want to contact the parents of the bully and tell them about the behavior of their children (bullies). Please consult with local law enforcement authorities if you see matters getting out of hand.
