How to prevent cyberbullying using the right online safety tools

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Being harassed is detrimental to any individual at any age. For young people in an online environment, demeaning or otherwise harmful actions can spell tragedy. Responses to recent surveys from students who’ve experienced cyberbullying illuminate the consequences and pervasiveness of online harassment, more commonly known as cyberbullying. 

This blog will explore how educators can spot common symptoms of cyberbullying and steps schools and districts can take to prevent and mitigate its damage. 

What is cyberbullying? 

Cyberbullying is repeated harassment, humiliation and threats directed toward a person through an electronic device. The person may use a cell phone, computer or other electronic device to cause harm that the Cyberbullying Research Center defines as “willful and repeated.”

Similarly, the American Psychological Association (APA) clarifies that online bullying can affect any person, regardless of age. However, the term “cyberbullying” usually refers to virtual bullying among children and teenagers that may involve threats, name calling, sharing private or inappropriate photos, or excluding others. Cyberbullying occurs when a person repeatedly demeans, inflicts harm or causes pain to someone else via technology. Online settings where bullying takes place include social media, messaging, online gaming, discussion boards and the like.

One bully can harass another person online, notes the APA, or several bullies can gang up on an individual. While cyberbullying may come from strangers, more frequently it occurs among children or teens who already know each other. 

How prevalent is cyberbullying?

Exposure to cyberbullying is widespread. Data on online harassment collected by organizations can only give part of the picture of how many young people are affected. In 2022, Pew Researchers found that 46% of teens surveyed had experienced at least one of six behaviors of online harassment. Offensive name-calling was the most common of the behaviors teens personally experienced while online or using their cellphone. Targets of cyberbullying also experienced the spreading of false rumors about them, receiving explicit images they hadn’t requested, and physical threats. Others experienced someone other than a parent constantly ask them where they were, what they were doing or who they were with. Some also had explicit images of them shared without their consent.

Another nationally-representative survey in 2023 was conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center. Approximately 55% of the 5,005 middle and high school students who responded to the questionnaire reported experiencing cyberbullying during their lifetimes. Of this nationally-representative sample, 27% reported having been cyberbullied within the past 30 days. The survey broke down eighteen specific types of cyberbullying experienced within the previous 30 days. The most commonly-reported were mean or hurtful comments posted online (30.4%), exclusion from group chats (28.9%), rumors spread online (28.4%), and someone embarrassing or humiliating them online (26.9%). The results were in line with similar in-school surveys the organization had conducted.

2023 Cyberbullying Data – Cyberbullying Research Center

Another survey links cyberbullying to post-traumatic stress symptoms in middle- and high-school students in the United States. Nearly 9 of 10 of the nearly 2,700 teenagers surveyed in the study conducted by Florida Atlantic University in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire reported having experienced cyberbullying as defined by the researchers. 

How harmful is online bullying?

The harm caused by cyberbullying is far reaching as indicated by the PTSD symptoms reported above. It affects school and home life, relationships with family and friends, as well as physical and mental health. 

At school, students who experience cyberbullying can find it difficult to concentrate on learning and assignments or may skip school, potentially affecting grades and graduating. Stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression are common in victims as well as the bullies themselves. Depending on the severity of their actions, cyberbullies face consequences including suspension, expulsion from school, being kicked off sports teams and legal trouble.

According to UNICEF, victims of cyberbullying report feeling anxious, ashamed and insecure about being negatively judged and talked about. They often experience negative self-talk and thoughts as well as physical symptoms like frequent headaches, nausea or stomachaches. Loss of motivation and feeling isolated from loved ones are common as victims withdraw from friends and family.

How seriously mental health is affected may depend on how the bullying happens.Text messaging and pictures or videos posted on social media have proven extremely harmful for adolescents. Some victims turn to substances or violent behaviour to numb the psychological and physical pain. They are more at risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts.

What are five common signs of cyberbullying?

Outcomes are bleak for those bullied and those perpetrating the abuse. No one wins with online abuse, so prevention is the only good solution. Being observant and recognizing common signs of cyberbullying can help teachers, parents and other concerned adults take preventative action. These five signs can signal potential harm:

1. Students lose interest in their devices

One key indicator of cyberbullying is a sudden disinterest in using their device and the desire to completely unplug when at home. When using technology children who have experienced cyberbullying attacks often feel uneasy and unsafe. Teachers can help by taking note of their students’ technology habits so it is easier to spot changes that  may indicate online bullying. 

2. Students delete social media accounts

Sometimes bullied students withdraw from social media entirely, suddenly deleting their  profiles. Bullied students may drastically change the way they talk about social media as well as shift their online persona. 

3. Students lose interest in activities and peer contact

A child may start to avoid social situations and activities they previously looked forward to and enjoyed. They also may lose interest in friends and avoid interactions with their peers. At school, they might stay alone during lunch or recess, finding ways to avoid other students. Teachers should also be aware of any strange group interactions such as  peers surrounding certain students. 

4. Students demonstrate emotional changes

Sudden changes in a student’s emotions may signal an online attack. Frustration and sadness are examples particularly when directed toward their device. Bullied students may exhibit symptoms of anxiety and sadness or lash out with unexpected fury. This is possibly caused by fear and a sense of being entangled. An educator may notice a student who previously was able to focus on schoolwork suddenly having  trouble concentrating.  

5. Students are unwilling to communicate

A student may not want to talk to a parent or teacher, especially when the topic centers around social media. Often this is out of fear of how the adult will respond and not wanting to further complicate the situation. They also may fear or have been threatened with retaliation or more severe bullying. 

What schools can do to prevent cyberbullying

Along with understanding and being able to spot common symptoms, there are many simple but effective strategies to create a learning environment where students can enjoy safety and security.  In the classroom, teachers can create an open, comforting space for their students where students are encouraged to report online interactions that make them feel uncomfortable. Collaboration with counselors and school resource officers is also helpful. 

6 Ways to prevent cyberbullying

1. Invest time in educating yourself and your students.
2. Establish rapport with students that encourages open communication. 
3. Be knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms. 
4. Show students how to make wise choices online. 
5. Monitor online activities and behavior in the classroom. 
6. Prepare students through digital citizenship.

Prepare with prevention strategies and resources

Bullying prevention strategies are built over time. Classroom activities that encourage self-reflection help students identify how they feel and what they think. Teachers then can model healthy communication and expression while reinforcing and celebrating considerate behavior towards peers and other people. Giving students opportunities to learn and practice  self-awareness and self-regulation skills within all grade levels and subject matter is an effective prevention strategy.

Teachers can be fundamental to keeping students safe, yet adding the full burden of student behavior and wellbeing onto their full workload is unrealistic. Resources to support teachers and schools in preventing and mitigating the risk of cyberbullying are available through several organizations. 

• Cyberbullying: Is It Happening In Your Class?| ASCD
• Get Help Now | StopBullying.gov
• Tips for Teachers | StopBullying.gov
• SCHOOLSAFETY.GOV – Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies and Resources

How schools can strengthen their security and online safety

Schools and districts can put technology tools in place that make them more secure to online threats including cyberbullying. This can begin in the classroom with teachers and students, and then it can extend to the system level. 

Classroom management solution with browser monitoring

Digital tools that organize the online classroom help teachers streamline tedious tasks, freeing up more time to support and interact with students. 

In an online environment, it becomes challenging to be privy to what is happening on each student’s screen. Being able to monitor learners’ online activities while they are in the classroom helps safeguard them and other students. Having teacher support in staying focused on learning can not only boost self-esteem for students but also help them enjoy more academic success.  

For schools and districts that value the time savings of streamlining the number of vendors they work with, Hāpara offers an all-in-one classroom management solution. This bundles a screen monitoring tool and student Google Drive visibility for teachers.

The benefits of employing an advanced web filter

In an ever-changing online landscape, having up-to-date protection against new digital threats is critical for schools. To ensure that the schools they work with are getting comprehensive web filtering protection compliance with the Child’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Hāpara has partnered with the Gaggle, a leader in student safety. 

Gaggle Web Filter gives a clear picture of what is happening at any time through district, school and user-level browser activity reporting. This cloud-based K-12 web filter works across operating systems. Because there is no appliance to maintain, protection follows the learning device. Another huge benefit is regular updates that ensure effective protection from any new dangers that appear online.

This solution is surprisingly affordable given that it operates in real time 24/7 to categorize online content so it is always up-to-date. For technology administrators, Gaggle is easy to implement and manage. It allows schools to easily import existing web filter policies or create new policies that are based on customized domains, URLs and terms.

Optional student wellness tools 

Student mental health is a growing concern for schools as children and teens continue to struggle with challenging issues. To support schools in prioritizing the safety of their students, Gaggle offers an advanced student wellness option with human and AI monitoring. It flags and blocks concerning content while alerting designated school teams instantly to at-risk situations. Gaggle Safety Management uses advanced machine learning technology to analyze learners’ digital content in real time in their school-issued accounts, flagging concerning content and blocking what is harmful.

Using machine learning and human review, Gaggle Safety Management classifies each incident so school teams have clarity and can respond appropriately. Questionable content that poses no immediate threat is distinguished from time-sensitive situations. In the case of a safety and/or mental health crisis, a Gaggle Safety Management expert will immediately phone the designated district or school team members, even after school hours.

Along with private and governmental agencies, technology companies have a responsibility in the communities where they do business. Hāpara takes student safety very seriously and is proud to team with other companies like Gaggle that share the same values.