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Digital Citizenship: Turn Down the Dial on Cyberbullying

Objectives

What factors intensify cyberbullying and online cruelty, and what can you do to lessen them?

Students will be able to ...

  • reflect on the factors that intensify online cruelty and cyberbullying.
  • identify what targets and upstanders can do when online cruelty occurs.
  • recognize their own role in escalating or de-escalating online cruelty.

Key Vocabulary

  • target: a person who is the object of an intentional action
  • offender: a person who has malicious intent to hurt or damage someone
  • bystander: a person who does nothing when they witness something happening
  • upstander: a person who supports and stands up for someone else
  • escalate: to increase or make more intense
  • de-escalate: to decrease or make less intense

Ricardo's Story

Do you think Ricardo is a cyberbully? Why or why not?

What does Ricardo mean when he says that information “gets around really quick”?

Ricardo thinks that harassing others on Internet, rather than in person, appeals to some teenagers because they can’t be attacked back physically. What do you think?

Have you ever encountered online cruelty? How do you think someone might feel after being the target of it?

Stacey's Story

Who was involved in the story and what roles did they play? Who was the target? Who were the offenders? Were there bystanders and/or upstanders?

How do you think the online cruelty might be different from offline behavior?

What do you think you might have done if you were Stacey? What could you have done if you wanted to be an upstander in this situation?

Targets and Upstanders

How Targets and Upstanders Can De-escalate Online Cruelty

TARGETS

  • Ignore and block the bully. Offenders often want attention. Take it away and they may give up.
  • Save the evidence. You may need it later for documentation.
  • Change your privacy settings. Allow only people you trust to see or comment on your pages.
  • Tell trusted friends and adults. Create a support network.

UPSTANDERS

  • Stand up to the offender when appropriate. If you see something negative, say something. Make it clear that you think online cruelty is wrong, and tell the offender to back off. (It may be easier to do this if you have good standing with the offender.)
  • Point out the bully’s motivation to the target. Comfort the target by explaining that many offenders act cruelly just to gain control, power, or status.
  • Help the target advocate. Help the target find friends and school leaders who can help de-escalate the situation. It’s easier to stand up to cruelty when you are not alone.