Cyberbullying
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Hey, what are you doing?
00:14Well who told you that?
00:17Dear Moby, you are the ugliest shade of orange I've ever seen.
00:22Get a clue, weirdo.
00:24From a friend.
00:26First of all, Moby's color is just fine.
00:28It's pretty and it's web-safe.
00:32And second, you're no friend at all.
00:34You're just a cyber-bully.
00:35No, I didn't just make that up.
00:40Cyber-bullying is what it sounds like, bullying on the internet or through emails and texts.
00:45It can include sending mean messages, posting embarrassing photos or secrets about somebody,
00:51leaving someone out of online groups, spreading rumors, posing as someone else to make them
00:56look bad.
00:57Yeah, unfortunately, there are dozens of ways to do it.
01:01The bottom line is, if it's intended to make someone feel bad or unsafe, it's cyber-bullying.
01:07And even though it's not a physical attack, it can still cause a lot of damage.
01:12Victims are more likely to suffer from illnesses, depression and lowered self-esteem.
01:16Well, some bullies do it to feel better about themselves.
01:22But believe it or not, a lot of them don't even realize that they're being mean or hurtful.
01:27It's easy to forget that there's a real live person with feelings behind that social media
01:31handle or cell phone number.
01:33Plus, bullies may feel that they're safely hidden behind their own username.
01:40No, fighting back is one thing you should never do with a cyber-bully.
01:48They just want to get a reaction out of you, so why play into their hands?
01:52Sometimes, it can help to tell someone when they're making you feel bad.
01:57Well, they may think they're just playing a harmless joke.
02:01But if talking doesn't work, you should use any block or ignore functions that are available.
02:07You can also just delete messages from bullies without reading them.
02:11Well, if the bullying doesn't stop, or if it's threatening your safety, there are other
02:16ways to deal with it.
02:19Save any messages, emails, or screenshots that show what's happening.
02:23You can usually send complaints to websites and messenger hosts, and those files will
02:28be useful as evidence.
02:29You can print out hard copies, too.
02:32That way, when you tell an adult what's going on, which you should always do, you'll have
02:36something to show them.
02:38Grownups can help you deal with a tough situation, even if you think you can handle it by yourself.
02:43Even when the bullying affects you at home, there's a good chance that your school has
02:46rules against it.
02:49In fact, many forms of cyberbullying are considered harassment and can result in criminal charges.
02:54Yeah, there's a lot you can do to prevent it, too.
03:00Sticking up for other kids is sometimes enough to scare a bully off.
03:04But sometimes, the best way to stop it is not to be a cyberbully yourself.
03:09Don't write or text anything that you wouldn't say in person.
03:12But maybe a harmless joke to you can be taken as an insult by someone else.
03:17If you're angry or upset, wait a few minutes to calm down before you write something you
03:21can't take back.
03:23And remember, whatever you say online can stay there forever.
03:27And even though you may feel anonymous, websites and cellular services can usually figure out
03:32your true identity.
03:34To protect yourself from being a victim, be smart online.
03:39Don't share your personal information with anyone you don't know.
03:43Cyberbullies sometimes impersonate people to embarrass them.
03:46So don't ever tell anyone your passwords, except for your parents.
03:50Now, let's say we wash off that green paint.
03:57You kind of like it?
03:59Alright, that's... that's your choice.