Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 75 Cyberbullying hurts. It can leave you feeling isolated, humiliated, confused, and scared. It can follow you into your home, making it feel like you can’t escape it. But don’t lose hope. There are things you can do that will make a difference, even if it takes some time for the situation to resolve completely. You have the strength to get through this. We can help. What’s different about cyberbullying? • It can be harder to avoid cyberbullying than other types of bullying because it occurs through technology. Cyberbullying can occur at any time and can spread quickly. • Cyberbullying has a much larger reach than face-to-face bullying. It uses technology, which extends beyond the school, playground and other contexts, and can follow the person into their home. • Photos and videos can be used in cyberbullying, which can be humiliating. • Some forms of cyberbullying involve impersonation, which can harm your reputation. • When the person doing the bullying is anonymous it can be much harder to put a stop to it. What can I do? Protect yourself on Facebook • It might be tempting to respond to the text, post, or email but it’s better not to. Take a breath and count to ten. • If it’s a text or email, don’t delete it. If it’s a post on Facebook or another social networking site, take a screen shot. Having a record can help you prove what happened. • Block the sender from your inbox. Move the message to your Junk folder. If you don’t know how to block a sender from your phone, contact the service provider (your cell phone company). • It’s important to tell someone you trust about what’s happening, especially if it continues. If you are being threatened, you should contact the police. DidYou Know? 65% of KHP users asked said they have been bullied online. ARE YOU A TARGET? How do I tell? The best way to get through the awful feelings that cyberbullying can cause is to talk to someone about what you are going through.Talking is also the first step in getting the help you need to solve this problem. Here are some tips to help you figure out what kind of support you need and how to ask for it. • Think about how you are feeling right now, and what would be most helpful. Do you need emotional support? Someone to help you figure out what to do next? Someone to talk to school administration or the police with you? Once you know what would be most helpful right now, it’ll be easier to pick who to talk to first. • Tell the person you talk to what it is you need from them. If you really just need someone to listen, tell them that. If you are not ready to report the cyberbullying yet, you can tell them that, too. • If you are ready to report the abuse and need help doing so, be very clear that it’s what you want. Ask the person what they think the first step should be. If they don’t seem to know much about cyberbullying, show them this page and ask them to do some research. Learning about your school’s anti-bullying policies is a good place to start. • If the first person you talk to isn’t helpful, tell someone else. Don’t give up! It sometimes takes a few tries before you find someone who knows how to help. • Contact the police if you are being physically threatened or feel that your safety is in danger. Staying safe • Keep your passwords private, even from your friends. • Learn about privacy settings and reporting features on any social networking sites you use. • Be careful about which photos you share online. Remember, no one deserves to be cyberbullied, and no one should have to go through it alone. If you’re really upset and don’t know what to do, you can always call a counsellor at Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. 1 2 3 4
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