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Home » Student Success » Health & Safety » School Safety » Cyberbullying and Digital/Internet Safety

Cyberbullying and Digital/Internet Safety

The Internet offers a wealth of resources and material for education. Accessed through a variety of electronic devices, it also allows for rich and diverse opportunities for 21st-century communications. These devices are becoming ever more diverse and ubiquitous. They raise issues of digital / Internet safety and digital citizenship. Along with ensuring that our young people have the technological skills to effectively use digital devices, platforms, and resources for educational purposes, we also have the responsibility to teach them how to be safe and productive digital citizens of the 21st century. This responsibility has been mandated through the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.

Within this context, Washington's anti-bullying law includes the prohibition of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic devices to initiate repeated negative behavior toward a less-powerful person. Electronic name-calling, shunning, and shaming are all forms of cyberbullying. So are spreading rumors, gossiping, and making threats online. Schools are permitted to discipline students who engage in cyberbullying if it disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Additional HIB training materials are available on the Safety Center website.

Introductory Training Presentations - Cyberbullying

The introductory presentations below are provided to assist districts with the HIB training requirements of RCW 28A.300.285. These specifically provide information on cyberbullying:

Cyberbullying Summit

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Microsoft Campus - The Commons, Redmond

The Youth Internet Safety Task Force invites educators, administrators, community mobilizers, prevention and social messaging experts, law enforcement, and anyone else interested in helping prevent cyberbullying to this day-long summit devoted to the development of a youth cyberbullying prevention campaign.

Agenda
Registration List
Summit Notes

Presenters

Presentations

Research/Resource Material:

NetSmartz: Classroom and background information and resources from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Internet Safety Brochure
Cyber Safety: Tips for Safe Surfing, is a full-color, two-page brochure for parents and teens. Schools may print this as a brochure and distribute to their families.

Download the brochure
The brochure is available as a PDF download in nine languages:
English | Tagalog | Spanish | Cambodian | Korean
Russian | Somali | Ukrainian | Vietnamese

The following is a limited list of laws and policies. It is not exhaustive, but rather identified several of laws and policies which are pertinent to cyberbullying and digital/Internet safety. Please check with state and local agencies for laws and policies in your area.

Federal:

Washington:

The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act adds statutory language to existing FCC rules for the implementation of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). CIPA compliance, in turn, impacts ERate compliance. In addition to existing CIPA requirements, the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act now also requires school boards to update their Internet Use/Internet Safety policies to include statutory language to say they are providing for the education of minors regarding appropriate online behavior including interacting with others on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and regarding cyberbullying awareness and response.

Sexting is not a singular thing. It covers a range of possible actions and motivations. Sexting is online communication involving youth produced sexually explicit or suggestive images created and shared through the use of personal communication technologies. Sexting response requires clear policies and procedures, common sense, compassion, and a known plan of action. Discuss sexting with your legal office before a situation arises.

These documents have been developed by reliable sources. They are designed to help adults in schools and at home better understand what social networking is and how to use it safely. They will help people to more easily talk with youth about appropriate behaviors and safety issues and to be better prepared to help when necessary.

The following are a few selected links and resources which provide background and context for adults and can help teach youth online safety. Many sites provide links to additional resources.

A Thin Line: A site created by MTV to empower youth to identify, respond to, and stop digital abuse among young people. A Thin Line has recently added a Grown Ups link for parents and educators.

NetSmartz: Classroom and background information and resources from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.