Cyberbullying

The podcast discusses the importance of educating students about social media and focuses on cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that happens online, and it can have severe emotional, psychological, and physical consequences for victims. The statistics show that even lower primary students are exposed to cyberbullying. As teachers, it is important to teach students how to behave appropriately online, how to avoid cyberbullying, and what to do if they become a victim. The podcast suggests various strategies for addressing cyberbullying in the classroom, such as discussions, informative videos, posters, presentations, and prevention programs. Teachers are encouraged to visit the Victorian Government website for resources on anti-bullying and mental health. Welcome back to my podcast on the importance of educating students on social media. We've previously spoken about managing online privacy and safety, including online predators and sharing information online. The impact of having a digital footprint was also discussed. Now we will delve into the topic of cyberbullying, the effects of students' actions online and how cyberbullying has become paramount in the 21st century. So what is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is a form of bullying or harassment that takes place online or through a digital communication channel. It involves the use of electronic devices and technology to send, share or publish hurtful or threatening messages, images or other content with the intent to harm, intimidate or harass individuals. Cyberbullying can occur through various means, including social media platforms, messaging and online forums. Although cyberbullying is likely to occur in upper primary, cyberbullying should be taught to all students, regardless of their age or year. With young students gaining access to social media, whether it be through their own accounts or on an adult's device, it is inevitable that they will incur some form of bullying online. A study conducted on the occurrence of cyberbullying in primary schools portrayed that 36.4% of lower primary students experienced some form of cyberbullying, opposed to 63.6% of upper primary students. Regardless of student's year level, the most frequent form of cyberbullying was spreading secrets, rumours or personal information without permission. A further one third of upper primary school students experienced the sending of harassing false messages as well as photos taken without permission. Honestly, I found the statistics of this study shocking, as it depicts that even lower primary students are exposed to bullying online and through social media from such a young age. So, what are the effects of cyberbullying on students? Cyberbullying can have severe emotional, psychological and physical consequences for victims. It can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and even self-harm. If a student becomes a victim of bullying online, it can result in feelings of negativity about themselves and feeling like they are not good enough. This will then lead to social withdrawal and can have an impact on their academics and schooling. As teachers, it is vital that we teach students how to behave appropriately online, how to avoid cyberbullying and what to do if they become a victim. Within the classroom, this can be achieved by having discussions with students about the topic and allowing them to watch informative YouTube videos which address the effects it can have on others. Students can also complete posters or presentations and learn to create positive and friendly relationships with their peers. The school can also organise cyberbullying incursions and prevention programs which will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and learn ways to avoid cyberbullying. But, to teach our students appropriately, we also must be well-educated on the topic. Therefore, I suggest all teachers take the time to visit the Victorian Government website and explore the Victorian Anti-Bullying and Mental Health Initiative, which is a new $9.5 million investment to put a stop to bullying in our schools. As teachers, it is essential to take cyberbullying seriously and provide support to those who experience it. Encouraging open communication and educating our students on the topic is crucial in mitigating cyberbullying online and on social media.