Annotated Bibliography of Resources

Campbell, Marilyn A. (2005) Cyber bullying: An old problem in a new guise? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counseling, 15(1), pp. 68-76. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/1925/1/1925.pdf
The article by Campbell addresses the issues of cyber bullying and the damage that the many new forms of communication can facilitate the damaging harassment. It also addresses the fact that despite being recognized as an international problem, there is very limited research to date. Cyber bullying is a present threat to teenagers and young adults, and there are limited venues of prevention and intervention.

According to the author, the four areas of research that indicate a reduction in incidences are: supervision, awareness raising, supervision, and whole school policies. All research is based on traditional face-to- face bullying.  The greatest obstacle to intervention of cyber bullying is failure to report.  An additional concern raised by the author, is that teens believe that if they report that they have been the victim of cyber bullying they will not have the support of the adults, or that the incident will be “trivialized”.

The final conclusion of Campbell is that cyber bullying is an increasing problem for teens and young adults, and needs to be addressed and prevented. Intervention measures need to be equal to or greater than penalties that are in place for traditional bullying.

Friesen, A., Jonsson, A., Persson, C. (2007). Adolescents' Perception of Bullying: Who is the Victim? Who is the Bully? What Can be Done to Stop Bullying?. Winter 2007, Vol. 42 Issue 168, p749-761, 13p. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=22df0cd3-b8fc-4636-8c2f-33b0fd80300c%40sessionmgr114&vid=4&hid=110 
The main aim of this study was to describe adolescents' perceptions and experiences of bullying: their thoughts about why children and adolescents are bullied, their ideas about why some bully others, and what they believe is important in order to stop bullying. The adolescents were asked about experiences throughout their school years. The study group was comprised of 119 high school students, with a mean age of 17.1 (SD = 1.2). Of the adolescents who reported, 39% indicated that they had been bullied at some time during their school years and 28% said that they had bullied others; 13% reported being both victims and bullies. The ages during which most students had been bullied at school were between 7 and 9 years.

Bullies reported that most of the bullying took place when they were 10 to 12 years old. The most common reason as to why individuals are bullied was that they have a different appearance. The participants believe that those who bully suffer from low self-esteem. The most common response to the question “What do you think makes bullying stop?” was that the bully matures. The next most frequent response was that the victim stood up for himself/herself. Those who were not involved in bullying during their school years had a much stronger belief that victims can stand up for themselves than did the victim.

Keith, S., & Martin, M. E., (2004).  Cyber-Bullying:  Creating a Culture of Respect in a Cyber World. Crisis Prevention.  Retrieved from http://www.crisisprevention.com/Resources/Knowledge-Base/Education/School-Bullying-Resources-and-References/Cyber-Bullying-Creating-a-Culture-of-Respect-in-a 
The article by Keith and Martin addresses the new form of school violence which goes by the name of cyber-bullying.  This form of bullying using technology allows for easier access for the bullies to reach their victims.  Cyber-bullying is different than traditional bullying due to the use of new technologies kids have at their fingertips.  Kids today are always connected and can run circles around most adults with their computer abilities often making it difficult for parents, teachers or administrators to understand the problem or intervene.

Most parents think that cyber-bullying is uncommon and that their child would never participate in any activity that would deliberately try to harm another child.  They are wrong it is easy to be a bully to someone you don’t have to face.  According to the authors “with no boundaries or tangible consequences, children are using technology to vent normal frustrations in ways that can become very destructive”. 

Signs that your child is being cyber –bullied are: spending alit time on the computer; having trouble sleeping or nightmares; feeling depressed or crying without reason; mood swings; feeling unwell; becoming anti-social and falling behind in homework. 

The final point the authors wanted to make was that most parents and teachers do not feel comfortable with the technology that students have at their fingertips.  But by teaching children to use technology in ways that promote respect, understanding and responsibility, the impact of cyber-bullying can be minimized.

Lenhart, A., Madden, M., Purcell, K., Rainie, L., Smith, A., and Zichuhr, K., (2011). Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites. November 2011. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media.aspx
In the report, “Teens, Kindness, and Cruelty on Social Network Sites,” authors Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Aaron Smith, Kristen Purcell, Kathryn Zichuhr, and Lee Rainie research social network sites, because they wanted to understand the types of experiences teens are having there and how they are addressing negative behavior when they see it or experience it. As they navigate challenging social interactions online, who is influencing their sense of what it means to be a good or bad “digital citizen”? How often do they intervene to stand up for others? How often do they join in the mean behavior?

In our survey, the report follow teens’ experiences of online cruelty – either personally felt or observed – from incident to resolution. They asked them about how they reacted to the experience and how they saw others react. They also asked them about whether they have received and where they sought advice – both general advice about online safety and responsibility and specific advice on how to handle a witnessed experience of online cruelty on a social network site.

The data discussed in this report are the result of a three-part, multi-modal study that included interviews with experts, seven focus groups with middle and high school students, and a nationally representative random-digit-dial telephone survey of teens and parents. The survey was fielded April 19 through July 14, 2011, and was administered by land-line and cell phone, in English and Spanish, to 799 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian. Black and Latino families were oversampled.

Snakenborg, Van Acker and Gable (2011). Cyberbullying: Prevention and Intervention to Protect our Children and Youth

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

ISSN: 1045-988X

Bullying is a topic of concern among parents and educators, that concern has been heightened with the increased amount of social media and technology available to children and youth. The article addresses the difficulty of enforcement and intervention due to the anonymity of cyber bullying. The greatest difference between bullying and cyber bullying is the use of technology to inflict harm on another individual. Although there are policies and laws that are intended to protect against cyber bullying there continues to be a lack of ability to enforce.

Cyber bullying can utilize any or all of the following: email, cell phones, instant messaging, chat rooms, YouTube, social media and virtual learning environments.
According to the authors, most anti-cyber bullying programs are based on practical beliefs and logic. There is a need for scientific research to identify effective prevention and intervention practices. Finally, the authors note that greater parental supervision of technology devices is the start to intervention.

(CBC news, 2013)

This article talks about the struggles of Rehteah Parson, a 17-year old who lived in Nova Scotia, CA. She was 17 when she died, taking her own life. The article reads that she was abused sexually by multiple boys at a party when she was 15, and video was taken. This same video was later used on social media and spread throughout the town. This teen experienced 2 years of mockery and online, as well as vocal abuse from peers. This teen ended her own life 2 years after this video was released. After her passing her father became a strong vocalist for anti-bullying. Since he has become more vocal about cyber bullying or bullying in general he has received some threats through various media sources.

Since the death of Rehteah Parson several people have come forward with information about the original footage of her being abused at the age of 15. There are two 18 year olds who have been charged with child pornography in connection to this case.

(examiner.com, 2013)

This article talks about a teen inn Idaho who felt harassed by the local police department. The teenager had missed a court date and for a charge of driving without privileges. Once a warrant was issued for this offensive, failure to appear in court, the Latoh County Sheriff’s office posted a message on Facebook. The message that was posted on the police department’s Facebook page stated that Andrew Cain was no longer a “wanted person of the week” he was now a “wanted person of the month”. The Police Department continued by sending private messages to Cain, asking that he give himself up.

The teen that was named in the facebook posts and messages shot and killed himself. His friends and family believe that the self shooting was in connection to the facebook messages and posts from the police department. Andrew’s sister had received messages, along with screen shots prior to Andrew killing himself. Andrew had told his sister that he was putting a bullet to his head.