Cyberbullying
Whilst technology has had many positive effects on how we live our lives, there are risks and pitfalls to spending more time online that students, parents and carers need to be aware of. This week our focus is on cyberbullying.
Mordialloc College does not tolerate cyberbullying, alongside any other form of bullying, as outlined in our College policies and Student Acceptable Use Agreement. We actively monitor student use of school-provisioned online services, and we block access to non-educational online services at school. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind students and families that use of VPNs and hotspotting is not permitted at school.
Outside of school, students interact with many other online services. In many cases, students are using these services to support their learning and wellbeing by interacting with friends and classmates. However, online services can be a vector for cyberbullying, unwanted contact and inappropriate content.
As part of the Homegroup and Mentoring Program at Mordialloc, all students in all year levels have engaged in lessons and had strategies provided that deal with the effects of social media. Topics covered this year include: ‘Online Cyber-Bullying’, being a ‘By-Stander' or an 'Up-Stander’ (for example being a member of a negative social media group but not contributing- or calling out the behaviour as unacceptable). Also there was another lesson titled ‘Tagged” which looked at what is the fallout and the long-term consequences of sharing inappropriate content and involving other students in the process.
As well as ongoing resilience strategies for coping with the negative effects of social media and who to speak with.
Students in Middle School also took part- in a Brainstorm Production performance named 'The Hurting Game.' This performance highlighted the importance of personal responsibility, online safety, help-seeking, respect and resilience and provides strategies for respectful communication.
These activities and lessons can all be reference points for you to use when you are holding your discussions with your child about the proper use of social media.
While we will always support our students, follow through with disciplinary action if perpetrators can be identified, and if necessary, refer issues onto the Police or other relevant authorities, we do not have control over external online services.
Mordialloc College also aims to support students by providing additional educational opportunities within the school. Trusted e-safety providers, such as Brainstorm Productions have delivered programs and performances to our students to provide knowledge and skills they need to stay safe in an online environment.
If students are involved in an online incident, we encourage students to:
- Ask others involved to stop.
- Resist the urge to respond.
- Screenshot, report and block on the platform (the eSafety Guide has lots of links for reporting).
- If the content is still up after 48 hours from reporting, report to the eSafety Commissioner.
- Seek help from a trusted adult, such as a teacher or parent.
More information can be found in the eSafety Commissioner’s guide for young people.
We strongly encourage parents and carers to discuss with their students what apps and services they use, and make sure that they are aware of how to get support if they have negative experiences. To support parents and carers in having these discussions, the eSafety Commissioner has a range of resources for both students and parents. Of particular use is their guide to “hard-to-have conversations”, and the eSafety Guide, helping you stay up to date with the latest apps, games and social media services, what they are used for, and any features to help your student stay safe while using them.
The eSafety Commissioner ‘s parents webinar program is focusing on digital technologies and mental health in October, with the next session on Thursday 27 October from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm.
You can register here.
Simon Belluzzo
Learning Specialist - Director of STEM