Bullying is Intentional, repeated, unprovoked acts and or threats motivated by an intent to cause fear, distress, or harm to someone with less power. Bullying peaks in middle school with boys and girls do equal amounts of bullying.
Bullying can have devastating, long-term effects on its targets. Bullying can cause children to experience fear, depression, loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, physical illness, isolation, and in some cases, even suicidal thoughts. Bullying is a learned behavior. It is not a rite of passage.
There are three main types of bullying: 1. Physical, 2. Verbal/Emotional, 3. Cyberbullying
Bullying includes:
Calling someone hurtful and derogatory names
Spreading gossip, lies and bad rumors about someone
Being mean and teasing someone
Hitting, punching, shoving, spitting and physically hurting someone
Social exclusion or isolation ... not including someone is a group
Getting certain kids or teens to "gang up" on others
Cyberbullying Cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking.
Cyberbullying can include:
Sending mean text, e-mail, or instant messages
Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites
Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone
Stealing someone's password and spreading rumors about someone else making it seem like that person is the Cyberbully (www.stompoutbullying.org)
Cyberbullying is different from face to face bullying for a number of reasons:
The bully can remain anonymous
It goes beyond schools, bus stops, and neighborhoods into target’s homes
Bullies often get braver when they are not face to face with their target and their bullying gets more brutal
Vicious gossip, rumors, personal information can be shared with 100’s even 1000’s at the click of a button
Become an ally: refuse to cheer or egg-on the bullying incident.
Find and tell an adult.
If you feel safe, tell the bully to stop.
Befriend the target of the bully. Walk to class, sit in the lunch room, and hang out with them at the bus stop. A bully will be less likely to attack someone who is not alone.
Get involved -- never ignore acts of bullying that you see.
Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call The Advocates hotline 208-788-6070 or toll free 888-676-0066.
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