Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 18, 2011 SCHOOLS & CAMPS A plan to prevent cyberbullying at home and at camp by Joel D. Haber, Ph.D. and Lisa Daley, J.D. “Kick a Ginger Day.” The majority of adults reading this article have no idea what this means. A bunch of juniorhigh-aged kids in Calabasas, California, did, however. On Nov. 20, 2009, at least four girls and two boys were subjected to physical and/or verbal bullying and abuse because of their red hair, freckles, and pale complexions. Ginger. “Gilligan’s Island.” Redheads. It’s quite a leap. What makes this bullying story relevant is that the call to action was initiated via a Facebook invite to a day of “Ginger bashing,” sent by a 13-year-old boy who was inspired by a “South Park” episode. The Los Angeles County sheriff’s office reported a number of incidents throughout the day. Two 12-year-old boys were detained and booked on charges of “battery on school property because of cumulative incidents through the day.” The 13year-old who created “National Kick a Ginger Day” was booked for cyberbullying or making a threat via electronic communication. Sheriff’s officials say at least eight played some role in the bullying of redheads that day. Clearly, the sarcasm and parody of racial prejudice intended by the “South Park” episode was lost on the 13year-olds. The larger issue and lesson for camps, schools, and parents, is how quickly and easily this kind of online bullying activity can escalate. The stories of how one comment leads to five comments, which leads to a web of communications, which leads to abuse and even suicide, are becoming more and more commonplace. Anyone working with kids has to know what cyberbullying is, appreciate that it is everywhere, and realize that all kids are at risk of exposure. Cyberbullying is any bullying activity that occurs in a Web-based medium, such as text, e-mail, social media, and/ or any other kind of electronic format. It is also referred to as “digital disrespect.” Bullying, while it has many forms, is going to take place among our youth wherever and whenever there is a lack of a respected adult presence. The Internet could not be a more opportune place for this kind of activity. When online, kids have lots of access with little to no supervision, and the Internet is available all the time. Through mass e-mails, social media sites, and public websites, a message or threat can haunt a victim for weeks, months, or years — and the effect can be toxic. Research has found that boys initiate mean online activity earlier than girls do -- as early as second grade. By the time kids reach middle school, however, girls are more likely to engage in such activity by a two-to-one margin (Haber & Haber, 2007). Cyberbullying is more difficult for camps and parents to manage for several reasons: Many parents and camp administrators have no experience with this type of bullying; they can’t relate; or they are inept at maneuvering the various technology platforms in which it exists. For camp leaders, there is a limited window of direct involvement with staff or camp families. Trying to monitor or manage the relationships kids maintain with each other outside of camp is laden with obstacles, which makes this a tough problem throughout the year. Further, kids grow up with technology and internalize its rhythms and language. Studies show that most adults significantly underestimate the amount of time kids spend online. An LG Text Ed Survey (2010), conducted by TRU Research and sponsored by LG Mobile Phones, found that parents are not even clear about what children are doing when they are online. Finally, the permanence of Web-based information leaves those in charge with a very difficult burden — how to make it “go away.” Content on the Internet may live forever and often goes viral. In a recent article in New York Times Magazine, “The Web Means the End of Forgetting,” Jeffrey Rosen (2010) notes, “. . . far from giving us a new sense of control over the face we present to the world, the Internet is shackling us to everything we have ever said, or that anyone has said about us . . . .” Kids, having so little appreciation of the concept of “forever,” can’t begin to appreciate the potential risks inherent in Internet content. It is widely known that face-to-face bullying can result in long-term psychological harm to victims, including low self-esteem, depression, anger, school failure and avoidance, and in some cases, school violence or suicide. With cyberbullying, these dangers are magnified for a number of reasons: It is permanent. What’s on the Web (or Facebook, or MySpace, or blogs, etc.), stays on the Web (or Facebook, or MySpace, or blogs, etc.). It is anonymous. There is no face-to-face communication, making mean and abusive words easier to utter. The breadth and depth of the audience is massive and viral. (continued on next page) Pinnacle Learning Center At the Ramapo Reformed Church Educational Building 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 Register for Summer 2011 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM M-F Flexible Hrs. 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