The GO's Column

Cyber Safety Online Bullying Strategies

Some students are not clear about why mobile phones are not to be used during the school day. The obvious answer is that we are at school to learn. Also, by not using phones during the school day, the rate of cyber bullying dramatically decreases. Cyber bullying is bullying that uses electronic means like the internet or mobile phones to aggressively and intentionally harm someone. It is important to be safe and responsible when using mobile phones and the internet. For example, keeping personal information safe and secure, being respectful of other people online and learning about identifying good and bad behaviour online. Personally, I made it all the way through high school without ever using a mobile phone because they weren’t invented yet! OMG LOL

The 6 steps of Cyber Safety:

1. DON’T RESPOND! – This is one of the most important and most underutilised strategies

2. KEEP EVIDENCE of bullying behaviour – This may include screen shots, printing emails or recording online conversations. Record the time and people involved along with as many details as possible to help you report the issue later on

3. BLOCK or delete the person. If it is a chat, leave the ‘room’

4. SPEAK to someone you trust and is able to work with you to resolve the issue. This may be a close friend, parent, teacher, guidance officer or support person

5. REPORT content and/or account to the site on which it occurred. If it is not removed within 48 hours, report it to the eSafety Commissioner at www.esafety.gov.au/reportcyberbullying.

6. If the issue goes beyond bullying, such as hacking, online scams, online fraud, identity theft and attacks on computer systems, you can report this to ACORN (acorn.org.au).

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