Cyber-Bullying
There is a new kind of humiliation in schools these days - bullying on the internet. Children are using the anonymity of the Internet to harass other children, spread cruel rumors and sometimes even threaten physical harm. The worst thing is that it can happen anywhere, anytime. The same technology that has brought so many benefits is also bringing pain to far too many children, while allowing others to brutalize their peers without the chance of getting caught.
•New pain, old problem. By simply creating a separate screen name or instant message (IM) identity, kids can use the Internet to send hate mail that, in most cases, can’t be traced.
•Not an isolated incident. Studies have found that as many as one in four children has been harassed online.
•IMs are the biggest problem. Instant messaging (IM) has replaced the pre-teen and teen rituals of the past - passing notes and talking on the phone.
•Bad judgment can cause a lifetime of hurt. Children sometimes, without thinking of the consequences, send very personal information to others over the Internet. Once they’re sent, they’re “out there.” The person who receives the images can send them to others, and on and on.

Here are some tips for parents:
•Discuss the topic with your child. You may be surprised to learn that your child already had been a target of cyber-bullying. If so, the most important thing is to find out what kind of bullying is taking place. Are the words just cruel or are threats involved?
•Keep records. Use your computer to copy and print all of the offending IMs or e-mails, including the “buddy name” of the perpetrator. If physical harm is being threatened, you must talk to the police. Although it is difficult to discover the identity of an Internet name, authorities can do so if a life has been threatened.
•Monitor your child when he/she is on the computer. Listen for signs that he/she is being unkind (cruel laughter as they send or read an IM or e-mail), as well as for indications that he/she is being bullied. Then take action.