Internet Safety & Cyberbullying

Internet Safety Tips

http://www.safekids.com/kids-rules-for-online-safety/

Online safety & civility

Kids Rules for Online Safety (for pre-teens)

1.   I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.*
2.   I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
3.   I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring a parent along.
4.   I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.*
5.   I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away.
6.   I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online and using a mobile phone. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
7.   I will not give out my passwords to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.
8.   I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or mobile device or jeopardize my family’s privacy*
9.   I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.
10. I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.

*These rules are aimed mostly at pre-teens. It is now very common for teens to upload pictures and some information about themselves on social networking sites, however caution is still necessary.

What is Cyberbullying? (Legal US definition)

Cyber-bullying is bullying which uses e-technology as a means of victimising others. It is the use of an Internet service or mobile technologies – such as e-mail, chat room discussion groups, instant messaging, webpages or SMS (text messaging) – with the intention of harming another person. Examples include communications that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down or humiliate the recipient

What is Cyberbullying? (stopcyberbullying.org)

A situation when a child, tween or teen is repeatedly ‘tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted’ by another child or teenager using text messaging, email, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology.

Definition of Bullying (Ont. Gov't)

For the purposes of policies on bullying prevention and intervention, school boards will use the following definition of bullying:

Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.