Reducing the Effects of Cyber Bullying in our School Community

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Cyber bullying is when one or more person is using the internet or interactive and digital technologies to target, torment, threaten, harass, humiliate or embarrass another individual. This type of bullying can have many effects on a victim’s health, both physically and emotionally. When the victim’s emotional state is affected they may experience anxiety, depression and lowered self-esteem. This is turn, affects the victims physical state which can trigger lack of eating, sleeping and in some extreme cases even harm or suicide. Andre Sourander (2005) psychologist quotes ‘Policy makers, educators, parents, and adolescents themselves should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of cyber bullying’. For this particular reason stated in the quote a survey was created by the Year 11’s for the Year 9’s to establish the main cause of Cyber Bullying.

It was established that the main cause of Cyber Bullying, derived from a survey produced by the Year 11’s and filled out by the Year 9’s, was that the Year 9’s believed in internet anonymity, causing some to become much more self-assured and insensitive online. There are many socio-cultural factors [appendix 1.1] that may be at the root of Cyber Bullying for most cases. Peer groups can have a largely influential effect on children by either creating a support network [appendix 1.5] or peer pressured situation. Associate Professor Judy Drennan (2010) announces ‘204 of the 218 surveyed students admitted to being subjected to Cyber Bullying at least once’. The Government Queensland’s survey on Cyber Bullying (2011) states; that of the telephone calls that the Kids Help Line receives each week in Queensland about Cyber Bullying, 75% of calls are from 10-14 year olds who are being bullied...

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Works Cited

Speech - Criminal Code 2011, Andrew Powell, accessed 30 March 2011,

Cyber Bullying Survey 2011, Parliament Queensland, accessed 30 March 2011,

Media Release 2010, The Australian Psychological Society, accessed 30 March 2011,

Anti Bullying Ideas 2010, Cheryl Starr, accessed 30 March 2011,

School Bully Activities 2011, eHow, accessed 30 March 2011,

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