MS. ELIAS TECHNOLOGY @KEEPINGUPWIYHTECHNOLOY
6th Grade Lesson
Cyberbullying & Digital Drama
8th Grade Lesson
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SWBAT:
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Online comments are misconstrued. A 14 year-old girl is victimized online when a simple post is taken out of context.
Key Vocabulary
cyberbullying: the use of digital media tools such as the Internet and cell phones to deliberately upset or harass someone.
drama: the everyday tiffs and disputes that occur between friends or acquaintances online or via text. Note: Unlike cyberbullying, which involves repeated digital harassment toward someone, drama is broader and more nuanced. That being said, kids and teens sometimes use the term drama to distance themselves from emotionally difficult behavior. Digital drama can still feel very real to students, lead to hurt feelings, and even damage friendships. In some cases, digital drama can escalate into an offline fight – either verbal or physical.
hate speech: making cruel, hostile, or negative statements about someone based on their race, religion, national origin, ability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.
target: a person who is the object of an intentional action.
offender: a person who has a malicious intent to hurt or damage someone.
bystander: a person who does nothing when they witness something happening.
upstander: a person who supports and stands up for someone else.
escalate: to increase or make more intense.
de-escalate: to decrease or make less intense.
cyberbullying: the use of digital media tools such as the Internet and cell phones to deliberately upset or harass someone.
drama: the everyday tiffs and disputes that occur between friends or acquaintances online or via text. Note: Unlike cyberbullying, which involves repeated digital harassment toward someone, drama is broader and more nuanced. That being said, kids and teens sometimes use the term drama to distance themselves from emotionally difficult behavior. Digital drama can still feel very real to students, lead to hurt feelings, and even damage friendships. In some cases, digital drama can escalate into an offline fight – either verbal or physical.
hate speech: making cruel, hostile, or negative statements about someone based on their race, religion, national origin, ability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.
target: a person who is the object of an intentional action.
offender: a person who has a malicious intent to hurt or damage someone.
bystander: a person who does nothing when they witness something happening.
upstander: a person who supports and stands up for someone else.
escalate: to increase or make more intense.
de-escalate: to decrease or make less intense.
It seems like there are new cyberbullying stories (also known as “cyber bullying" or “cyber–bullying”) in the headlines each day. The effects of cyberbullying can be devastating for everyone involved. Cyberbullying statistics have shown that modern technology with its ability to increase our connectivity can also be the perfect platform for bullying.
Students can learn what to do if they are involved in a cyberbullying situation as well as ways of how to stop cyberbullying by exploring the roles people play and how individual actions — both negative and positive — can impact their friends and broader communities. Students are encouraged to take the active role of upstander and build positive, supportive online communities.
What to Know
It’s time to know the cyberbullying facts. Online cruelty, also referred to as cyberbullying, takes place whenever someone uses digital media tools such as the Internet and cell phones to deliberately upset or harass someone else, often repeatedly. While spreading rumors and bullying is nothing new for kids, online tools can magnify the hurt, humiliation, and social drama in a very public way.
Cyberbullying can take a variety rumors, or posting cruel comments or images online. The feeling of being anonymous or “removed” from a target in an online environment can encourage a kid who normally wouldn’t say anything mean face-to-face to act irresponsibly or unethically. With the effects of cyberbullying ranging from low self-esteem to depression to thoughts of violence or suicide, it is important for parents, teachers and students alike to learn how to prevent cyberbullying and stop it in its tracks.
When kids misuse online or mobile technology to harass, embarrass, or bully others, they can do real and lasting harm. Nothing crushes kids’ self-confidence faster than humiliation. And just imagine a public humiliation sent instantly to everyone they know. Sadly, hurtful information posted on the Internet is extremely difficult to prevent or remove, and millions of people can see it. As more and more states take a harsher stand with new cyberbullying laws, it is important to know how to stop cyber bullying in its tracks. Teachers and parents can help kids think about the consequences of their online actions — before they even occur. When guiding students, it’s important for them to understand that they have a choice in all of their online relationships. They can say something positive or say something mean. They can create great community support around activities or interests, or they can misuse the public nature of online communities to tear others down.
Students can learn what to do if they are involved in a cyberbullying situation as well as ways of how to stop cyberbullying by exploring the roles people play and how individual actions — both negative and positive — can impact their friends and broader communities. Students are encouraged to take the active role of upstander and build positive, supportive online communities.
What to Know
It’s time to know the cyberbullying facts. Online cruelty, also referred to as cyberbullying, takes place whenever someone uses digital media tools such as the Internet and cell phones to deliberately upset or harass someone else, often repeatedly. While spreading rumors and bullying is nothing new for kids, online tools can magnify the hurt, humiliation, and social drama in a very public way.
Cyberbullying can take a variety rumors, or posting cruel comments or images online. The feeling of being anonymous or “removed” from a target in an online environment can encourage a kid who normally wouldn’t say anything mean face-to-face to act irresponsibly or unethically. With the effects of cyberbullying ranging from low self-esteem to depression to thoughts of violence or suicide, it is important for parents, teachers and students alike to learn how to prevent cyberbullying and stop it in its tracks.
When kids misuse online or mobile technology to harass, embarrass, or bully others, they can do real and lasting harm. Nothing crushes kids’ self-confidence faster than humiliation. And just imagine a public humiliation sent instantly to everyone they know. Sadly, hurtful information posted on the Internet is extremely difficult to prevent or remove, and millions of people can see it. As more and more states take a harsher stand with new cyberbullying laws, it is important to know how to stop cyber bullying in its tracks. Teachers and parents can help kids think about the consequences of their online actions — before they even occur. When guiding students, it’s important for them to understand that they have a choice in all of their online relationships. They can say something positive or say something mean. They can create great community support around activities or interests, or they can misuse the public nature of online communities to tear others down.
Online comments are misconstrued. A 14 year-old girl is victimized online when a simple post is taken out of context.
Stacey’s Story: When Rumors Escalate
• Do you think Stacey’s experience is an example of
cyberbullying? Why, or why not?
• How would you explain the difference between playful
teasing online and hurtful cyberbullying?
• In Stacey’s case, the drama started because something she
posted online was taken out of context. Has anything you
posted online or said in a text message ever been taken out
of context?
Stacey says, “Everyone knew who she [the other girl] was talking
about” when the other girl was posting online. If the girl who was
posting didn’t explicitly use Stacey’s name in her posts or message
Stacey directly, how do you think Stacey knew it was about her?
Can you understand why Stacey was hurt and upset?
• Stacey was frustrated because she knew she couldn’t retaliate
without stooping to the same level as the girl who was harassing
her. Is there anything Stacey could have done to get the girl to
leave her alone?
• Stacey talks about the big difference her friends made in helping
her get through the experience. What do you think her friends did
that was so helpful?
• What are some of the different ways Stacey was harassed online?
What are the most common forms of online harassment or
meanness that you see?
• Stacey’s mom wanted Stacey to tell her school about what was
going on, but Stacey thought that getting the school involved
would only make things worse. What do you think? What are
some ways the school may have been able to help?
• Do you think Stacey’s experience is an example of
cyberbullying? Why, or why not?
• How would you explain the difference between playful
teasing online and hurtful cyberbullying?
• In Stacey’s case, the drama started because something she
posted online was taken out of context. Has anything you
posted online or said in a text message ever been taken out
of context?
Stacey says, “Everyone knew who she [the other girl] was talking
about” when the other girl was posting online. If the girl who was
posting didn’t explicitly use Stacey’s name in her posts or message
Stacey directly, how do you think Stacey knew it was about her?
Can you understand why Stacey was hurt and upset?
• Stacey was frustrated because she knew she couldn’t retaliate
without stooping to the same level as the girl who was harassing
her. Is there anything Stacey could have done to get the girl to
leave her alone?
• Stacey talks about the big difference her friends made in helping
her get through the experience. What do you think her friends did
that was so helpful?
• What are some of the different ways Stacey was harassed online?
What are the most common forms of online harassment or
meanness that you see?
• Stacey’s mom wanted Stacey to tell her school about what was
going on, but Stacey thought that getting the school involved
would only make things worse. What do you think? What are
some ways the school may have been able to help?
