I was sitting at the table the other day with my 12-year-old as
he listed a lengthy list of reasons that he needed his own Instagram and Tik
Tok accounts and I realized that as much as I want to wrap him in a safe bubble,
I cannot pretend the outside world does not exist for him anymore. The social networks
of adolescents today include an entire universe of connections available on the
device in their pocket. The very real-life implications of having the emotional
intelligence to handle the all-access pass we give to online media is not just a
kid issue, but an issue we all have to recognize and address. As a parent I want my own children to understand this is not about denying access to something but making sure they understand the power of the tool they want to use. I wouldn't hand my kid a chainsaw and expect him to operate it safely with no training and yet we hand over unlimited access to the internet without teaching them the power to wield it responsibly. Navigating this uncharted territory starts with finding resources, support and open communication.
Cyberbullying includes a wide range of intentional behaviors from repeated harassment and mobbing aimed to cause harm or exert power over another (Faucher, C., Cassidy, W., & Jackson, M. 2015). The shift to digital communication access for children has opened the door for childhood bullying behaviors to move from classroom to online over the last twenty years. We can see it the impacts with rise in adolescent depression, suicide, and school shootings and as a culture our response to prevention has been slow to handle to the gravity of the situation. Addressing the emotional needs of children seems like such obvious solution, but the path to achieve that goal is a source of much debate in the educational world. The focus on bullying prevention in schools is shifting to include social and emotional learning skills that will enable students to identify strategies for handling
complex social environments. Implementing curriculum topics that discuss netiquette and digital citizenship can also help students engage in meaningful awareness and problem-solving approaches (Rech, J. 2012). A clear point from watching cyberbullying awareness videos is that students need to understand the potential impacts and harm that come when cyberbullying takes place. The library is often seen as a hub for information and community learning for all students should actively promote and discuss the impact of our digital presence. The idea of community extends beyond the classroom walls and the more included and heard the students feel will naturally extend into their communication behaviors.
Cyberbulling Research Center founded by Justin Patchin and
Sammer Hindaju have created a wealth of online materials from research-based
articles and sharable resources that offer up to date content on issues. For
parents trying to keep up with the ever-changing terminology there is a cyberbullying
glossary guide with some of there frequently used words that have emerged. Taking
the time to make sure you recognize and understand changes in lingo used can go
a long way in cultivating open communication channels between teachers, parents,
and children. We often assume kids understand the slang words they use as well,
but even if it induces dramatic eye rolling there is room to create a better
understanding of terms to empower them with knowledge. Staying informed takes concerted
effort and this website presented a wide variety of tools to support parents
and educators on ways to combat cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying Research Center Links:
Top-Ten-Tips-Teens-TikTok.pdf
(cyberbullying.org)
2021_Cyberbullying
Glossary.pub
Greenville County Schools has a police officer come present
programs about internet safety and cyber bullying for students and parents. Presenting
programs is one way to open discussions and create dialog that schools can use
to cultivate a culture that actively works to promote digital literacy skills. Sharing this example as an idea for how to bring in community resources to speak to cyberbullying topics.
INFORMATION
SECURITY CYBER SAFE PROGRAMS - About Me (google.com)
Cyberbullying Research Center. (2021). Cyberbullying
Research Summaries and Facts Sheets. Cyberbulling.org.
https://cyberbullying.org/category/publications/research-summaries-and-fact-sheets
Faucher, C., Cassidy, W., & Jackson, M. (2015). From the
sandbox to the inbox: Comparing the acts, impacts, and solutions of bullying in
k-12, higher education, and the workplace. Journal Of Education And Training
Studies, 3(6), 111-125.
Rech, J. (2012). HOW IT’S DONE: Incorporating Digital
Citizenship Into Your Everyday Curriculum. Tech & Learning, 33(1), 16–18.
I agree with your chainsaw analogy; online access is certainly useful and there are some things that can't be done without it, but improper use is very dangerous. Several of the sources we read this week talked about the need to include cyberbullying discussion into the larger context of digital citizenship. I think training in how to operate the "chainsaw" is so important.
ReplyDeleteIt was also interesting (and frightening) to read about the ways that online bullying continues into adulthood. I know many women on Twitter often share they ways they are bullied just because they have a platform. It's clear that an understanding of how to be good digital citizens is important for everyone.
All that to say, if you DO figure out how to keep your son in a protective bubble, let me know so I can use it for my daughters.
Susanne I really enjoyed reading your blog post on cyberbullying. It is an ever changing and complex topic that follows us through our lives as we are connected to technology and social media. I found it interesting to hear your perspective as a mother and to learn how challenging it can be to navigate the waters of technology in your home. I also liked your analogy about the chainsaw. I think this is something that families too often don't think about. As a 4K teacher, my students aren't the likely victims of cyberbullying, but they are the victims of too much screen and technology time. There is too much content easily available to them that is not appropriate and harmful. I do the best I can to let families know how dangerous technology can be for children, but for too many families they can't seem to remove the tech. I also think it is a great idea to host information sessions for families. It is important that they know the information so that they can make informed decisions for their children. Thanks for sharing such a great post!
ReplyDelete--Cassie Kemmerlin
Susanne,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you that the fact your 12 year old has come to you to state his case for why he wants an instagram and tiktok, is such a great sign. I consider my son to be very responsible and trustworthy, but I had to find out from another parent when he first signed up for his own instagram! We had rules in place, and he did not ask! Honest communication between students and trusted adults is so important, so it's great he knows he can talk to you. I also really enjoyed your post because you included helpful links. I realize that this week's theme would have been a great opportunity to include links to awesome resources, but for some reason I only included them in my works cited list. I think you included a great one with the top ten tips for tiktok, so I thank you for that! My teenage son is not that in to tiktok, but my seven year old daughter is begging for it, and begging for her own phone. That's not happening, but I can already tell I am going to need all the tips for her! Thanks for sharing!
-Kristen "DeAnne" Anderson
I really appreciated this post. You are so right that we should be teaching kids safe ways to use the internet and social media right from the beginning so they do not figure it out on their own and use it inappropriately. Just like you said, we don't give our children a chainsaw or a car and not teach them how to use it safely beforehand. I have found myself saying frequently that when I have children they will not have phones or social media, but unfortunately, that may actually be irresponsible of me. I need to teach them how to use it before they reach middle and high school and learn it from their peers. Students also need to understand that cyberbullying is hurting someone. I think that gets lost now that they do not have to see that person read what they wrote. Thank you for the TikTok tips. That is going to come in handy for me since that is the media all my students are obsessed with right now!
ReplyDelete