At the US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) organization’s website, Mindy McDowell has written an article that centers around ‘cyberbullying,’ which lets bad users (aka bullies) threaten and intimidate other users through the use of technology. From not only skimming, but reading and checking out every last bit of this provocative article, here is my take on it.
To start out, cyberbullying pertains to the latest, prospering phenomenon in which users engage in the harassment and intimidation of other users by the practice of using technology. Examples of technological methods–especially those that the bullies used to be confined to–include physical threats, postal mail, and through the horn. By the horn, of course, we mean the telephone. Today, electronic media developments provide vari-ous forums including e-mail, instant messaging (IM), web pages, digital pictures, and other elements that make vital additions to the stockpile. As for computers, cell phones, and PDAs–these new tools make for old prac-tice technologies. Cyberbullying can come in a wide range of severity clas-ses, going from brutal, disturbing rumors to blackmails, annoyance, or worse yet, stalking. Regardless of age group, these modes of cyberbullying can occur to any person; on the other hand, the most common gambit includes teens and young adults, and as far as schools go, cyberbullying is an advanced conflict, even in these types of places.
Several questions can and may arise in people’s heads about cyberbully-ing–why it’s turning out to be a real, agonizing dilemma is one of them. For bullies, the internet’s rather contingent pseudonymity can be really precious because it boosts up the intimidation, thus making the activity tracing a no-power trip. It can also be deemed easier by some bullies to become more savage because of the lack of personal contact. However, the internet and email are also bringing up the activity’s afterimage. Pictures and other apparatus posted online or sent through to mass e-mails will reach an even broader crowd quicker than its usual approaches, triggering countless spoilage to every victim. In addition, these bullies might have the willpower to randomly pick and weed out their prey due to how much personal information is available online. Cyberbullying could also display or trigger various mind-sets towards more strenuous ethics. Most bullies outgrow this habit throughout the course of the ill-fated realness that is bullying. This incident has provided us with evidence that there might be an alarm for even more deranged conduct, despite its short life–that which hasn’t been recent or up-to-date enough to even accustom itself to lucid, concrete research.
The final element to this maxim boils down to four straightforward, far-reaching safety pointers. First off, we should keep watchful eyes on where our personal information is duly posted. In other words, our danger for unknown bullies will be tapered off if we restrict the bulk of people who have direct admittance to our contact information/details pertaining to aspects of our everyday lives, whether it be employment, habits, or any type of personal info. Restricting these people is our first defense against being victimized and, will lead to a vast improvement in tracking down a bully in case of this complication. Furthermore, we must circumvent ourselves from intensifying this situation–opposing a bully might lead to a bully’s aggravation, thus making the situation more intense than what either you or the bully anticipated. Based on what’s about to happen, we must learn to deal with, and perhaps avoid, this certain kind of contro-versy. Once in a while, bullies not only think about, but get wild over how their victims react. There are other choices, such as mental alertness–keep our identities under a low, top-secret profile. For instance, say you’re logged in to one of your usual e-mail accounts, and the next thing you realize, there’s a truckload of unwelcome, excess e-mail messages. If so, then think about giving your personalized e-mail addresses a crucial change. The only way this conflict might come to a dramatic end is if the bully doesn’t have any form of access to the new address. Nevertheless, we might end up with powerful cases for lawful activity if we keep on receiving messages at our new and improved accounts. Therefore, we must not only check on, but validate particular activities. Manifold online activity–including, but not limited to, emails, web pages, instant messages, as well as applicable dates and times–must all be taken into account. Also, copies of electronic renditions should be printed if they are archived. Lastly, cyberbullying should be reported to well-suited and well-timed experts. If, at any point, any of us happen to be intimidated and tormented, it is up to us to inform the local authorities of these activities. Depending on who you notify, law enforcement agencies might have various guidelines, but other than that, either the local police bureau, and (or) even our FBI branch make for wise beginning stages. On the other hand, as for free speech and punishable violations, there happens to be a difference between the two, except that the law enforcement officials and prosecutors have to judge among these legal ramifications. Regardless of what type of activity is going on, notifying this particular deed to the school officials (i.e. principals, counselors, faculty, what have you)–those who have, or may have, assorted codes for managing student-oriented activity, is also imperative if we deserve to have this conflict thrown off our shoulders.
Therefore, we must keep in mind–even as a final notice–we need to keep our kids safe by instructing to them upright online ethics (this can be checked in ‘Keeping Children Safe Online,’ for extra information; http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-002.html). To ensure that our kids are better off letting us know if they’re being abused online, communication lines should be open with them. Through setting rules and overseeing the way kids use the internet and other electronic media–whether it be cell phones, PDAs, the whole nine yards–we are doing everything in our power to overcome their sacrifice to end up becoming cyberbullies. After reading this overwhelming article, we trust that this rational strategy will be put into supplementary practice.
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