Cyber-bullying+as+a+Violation+of+Personal+Rights


 * ** EL7007-8 ** ||  ||
 * ** Ethical and Legal Issues in an Online Course ** || ** 7 Cyber-bullying as a Violation of Personal Rights ** ||
 * Hi Steve, **
 * Impressive work! Extremely well written and presented. Flawless APA formatting. Outstanding content. It is always a pleasure to read your assignments! Your score is 10 points and is most deserved (sorry I cannot give you more points). Please see my comments below. One more assignment to go! **
 * Impressive work! Extremely well written and presented. Flawless APA formatting. Outstanding content. It is always a pleasure to read your assignments! Your score is 10 points and is most deserved (sorry I cannot give you more points). Please see my comments below. One more assignment to go! **

=Cyber-bullying as a Violation of Personal Right = Cyber-bullying comprises the using of electronic media or technology to communicate a message that bully’s, intimidates, or intends to cause harm to another. A problem with bullying is that it involves the perceptions of the individuals experiencing the communication; thus it is hard to codify or define what it is exactly. Without explicit definition, bullying takes the form of a personal opinion; what I think is bullying, someone else may not and vice versa. Despite the difficulty of defining exactly what bullying is and under what circumstances bullying occurs, bullying constitutes a grave threat to young people who often do not have the emotional maturity to handle harassment. The mandate of schools to provide a safe and healthy learning environment places them in a legal and moral position to combat bullying in all forms whether the bullying occurs on the playground or through the electronic communication of students. [Outstanding intro]

Examples of Cyber-bullying
Bully’s that use electronic devices to abuse their victims are inventive. One form of harassment occurs by taking pictures of unsuspecting peers in locker rooms of gym classes and posting those pictures anonymously on the web ( Keith & Martin, 2005 ). [Oh yea!!]  In a survey, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) identified cyber bullying as receiving hurtful information, getting unwanted contact, or being excluded using the Internet ( Devoe, Murphy, & National Center for Education Statistics, 2011 ). Other youth have been targeted for their sexual orientation, real or imagined, causing great emotional distress ( Bhat, 2008; Keith & Martin, 2005 ). Websites have been created and published targeting lists of youth as undesirable in one way or another, and in some cases requesting other students to vote on unflattering characteristics of students ( Bhat, 2008; Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Groups of youth may conspire to exclude other youth from participation in chat or games ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">What is Cyber-bullying?
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Cyber bullying is bullying that uses electronic means ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Most definitions of cyber bullying contain three postulates; bullying includes behaviors that are intended to cause harm or distress in another, the behaviors are repeated over time, and exist in power imbalanced relationships ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Snakenborg, Van Acker, & Gable, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Studies reveal that young males are more likely than young females to “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">make online threats and build websites targeting others <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005, p. 225 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Cyber bullying can take the form of rumors spread on social networking sites, or embarrassing video’s, websites, or pictures posted online, or through the use of fake profiles ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Pearce, Cross, Monks, Waters and Falconer (2011) found that “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">cyber bullying using pictures and/or video clips appears to have a greater negative impact on victimized students than face-to-face bullying <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 3 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). With face-to-face bullying, males are more likely to be both perpetrator and victim; with cyber bullying, girls are twice as likely as boys to be both instigator and victim ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Young females are much more likely to inflict abuse on others “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">through instant messaging, online conversations, and e-mails <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005, p. 225 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Cyber bullying of this form sends mean text-messages or e-mails to victims or among peers ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Cyber bullying can either be direct, where messages are transmitted directly from bully to victim, or indirect, where the bully conspires with others to torment ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[Outstanding content]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Consequences of Cyber-bullying
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Without consequences, or accountability for their actions, young people are likely to use technology to vent the angst of their lives in ways that are ill-considered, lack emotional maturity, and can cause deep and abiding harm in others ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[Even worse than before, right?] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> For eons, youth could go home to find a safe place to recover some emotional stability from the onslaught of a bully. With cyber bullying, however, there is no safe place; the bully can strike willfully, anonymously, and with malicious intent wherever the victim accesses the Internet ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Keith & Martin, 2005; Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). This is even more devastating since many young people, especially girls, “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">spend the majority of their time online <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005, p. 225 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">) and the attack can come at any time, day or night ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Those who are cyber bullied have been shown to be more likely to: (a) have more health problems ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; DHHS, n.d.; Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (b) have lower self-esteem ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Campbell, 2011; DHHS, n.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (c) receive poorer grades ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Campbell, 2011; DHHS, n.d.; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (d) become increasingly truant ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011; DHHS, n.d.; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (e) experience bullying face-to-face ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d.; Snakenborg, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (f) use alcohol and drugs ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">DHHS, n.d.; Pearce et al., 2011; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (g) experience long-term mental impairment and immediate harm ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Campbell, 2011; Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (h) have eating disorders ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (i) depression ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Campbell, 2011; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (j) increased anxiety ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">) and (k) suicidal ideation ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Campbell, 2011; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Bullied youth are also “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">eight times more likely than other youth <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008, p. 56 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">) to carry a weapon to school.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">What can be done
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Young people are likely to experience cruelty aimed at them, and by them. More than half of middle-school and secondary school students admit to receiving and communicating hurtful things to others electronically ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005; Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Unfortunately, more than half of those receiving abuse have not told their parents or other responsible adults ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), being more likely to tell a friend, if they tell anyone at all ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Few empirical studies have been conducted regarding reducing cyber bullying among young people ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). With privilege comes responsibility. It is essential for young people to be taught to use “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">technology in ways that promotes[s] respect, understanding, and responsibility, [which can] lessen the impact of this new form of bullying <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005, p. 226 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Children should be taught to never share passwords or PIN numbers for anything to anyone, even their best friends ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Youth need to be taught that engaging in cyber bullying can have consequences, and that online identities are not as anonymous as they seem ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Further, young people should be taught how to block bullying instant messages or communications from bully’s in chat rooms, to not open e-mails from people they do not know, or reply to harassing or bullying messages ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Cyber bullying can be a criminal violation, and if the situation is bad enough, laws regarding invasion of privacy, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional stress can be used against the perpetrator ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Recommendations for School Policy
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Schools have a duty to prevent foreseeable harm to their students, know as duty to care* ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). This duty to care does not preclude injury, but expects that school policy is formulated such that “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">appropriate precautions are in place to limit the opportunity for injury <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011, p. 64 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">) if the risk is foreseeable and not insignificant. Cyber bullying is both a foreseeable risk to students, and poses a significant risk to students’ health and well-being. The courts have determined that just because students attend the same school, however, does not mean the school has a duty to care or prevent altercations while those students are away from school grounds ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). In limited circumstances, schools have a responsibility to prevent actions through education, or by acting as a mediator in student conflicts or disputes ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). So, while an act of cyber bullying may occur outside of the time and place for school, the school may be responsible for responding adequately to its effects ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Campbell, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">State legislatures have taken steps to formulate laws to combat cyber bullying in most states, as well as identifying principles that should exist and be employed in model policies for schools. Schools need to develop and enforce policies for acceptable Internet and cell phone use on campus, while enforcing a zero tolerance of any form of bullying ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Keith & Martin, 2005 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Because of the complex and systemic nature of bullying, programs that only address a single level (school, classroom, home, individual) are unlikely to be effective in reducing bullying ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Many studies support the efficacy of a whole-school approach to combating bullying. “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">A universal intervention has the potential to reach those who are bullied, those who bully others, and bystanders to the bullying, and over time promotes policy, practice, and a positive ethos at a whole-school level that fosters sustainability <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pearce et al., 2011, p. 3; see also Bhat, 2008 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">A meta-analysis of various intervention strategies showed that the most effective include the stating and enforcing of school-wide rules that depict the consequences for bullying, training for students in classroom curriculum regarding conflict resolution strategies, and teacher training ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pearce et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Educating students in methods for preventing or addressing cyber bullying and properly using technology mitigate some bullying ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Bhat, 2008; Snakenborg et al., 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Other bullying program components that have been shown effective are parent training and “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">cooperative group work between professionals <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pearce et al., 2011, p. 4 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Whole-school programs have been shown to reduce the amount of bullying or being bullied by about 20% ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Ttofi & Farrington, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). =<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Conclusion = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Cyber bullying is an increasingly major problem for young people. Bullying of any type is intended to harm the victim. Cyber bullying increases the reach of the bully while also increasing the potential scope of the humiliation. Because of the potential uses of electronic media, cyber bullying can take many forms and is limited only by the inventiveness of the bully. The consequences of cyber bullying on the victim can be devastating in the short-term and may be long lasting. Because of the impact of cyber bullying it is important that young people are educated in ways to use technology positively and protect themselves from abuse. Schools have the responsibility to create and maintain a healthy and safe learning environment. As part of creating that environment, schools need to develop and implement policies for the handling of bullying of all types, and for the educating of teachers and students in ways to reduce, cope, and respond to cyber bullying. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[Most impressive effort!]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[K1] Outstanding inclusion! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[K2] Outstanding!


 * = References* ||
 * * Bhat, C. (2008). Cyber bullying: Overview and strategies for school counselors, guidance officers, and all school personnel. //Australian Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 18//(1), 53-66. doi:10.1375/ajgc.18.1.53
 * Burgunder, L. B. (2011). //Legal aspects of managing technology// (5th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning.
 * Campbell, M. (2011). School policy responses to the issue of cyber-bullying. //Journal of Catholic School Studies, 83//(2), 62-69. Retrieved from http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/faculties_schools_institutes_centres/faculties/education/faculty_publications/journal_of_catholic_school_studies/
 * Devoe, J., Murphy, C., & National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). Student reports of bullying and cyber-bullying: Results from the 2009 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey. //Web Tables, NCES 2011-336//. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2011/2011336.pdf
 * Keith, S., & Martin, M. E. (2005). Cyber-bullying: Creating a culture of respect in a cyber world. //Reclaiming Children and Youth, 13//(4), 224-228. Retrieved from ERIC database (EJ710387)
 * Pearce, N., Cross, D., Monks, H., Waters, S. & Falconer, S. (2011). Current evidence of best practice in whole-school bullying intervention and its potential to inform cyberbullying interventions. //Australian Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 21//(1), 1-21. doi:10.1375/ajgc.21.1.1
 * Snakenborg, J., Van Acker, R., & Gable, R. A. (2011). Cyberbullying: Prevention and intervention to protect our children and youth. //Preventing School Failure, 55//(2), 88-95. doi:10.1080/1045988X.2011.539454
 * Ttofi, M. M., & Farrington, D. P. (2011). Effectiveness of school-based programs to reduce bullying: A systematic and meta-analytic review. //Journal of Experimental Criminology, 7//, 27-56. doi:10.1007/s11292-010-9109-1
 * U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.) //What is cyberbullying?// Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/index.html ||