CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/09/17

Take action against cyberbullying

By Erica Cooke

Teenagers spend a lot of time online. Social media activity carries clout among teens, and can empower cyberbullies, which is why parents should be prepared to help their children cope with social pressures online.

Cyberbullying can be just as harmful, both emotionally and mentally, as physical bullying, according to Diane Bales, University of Georgia associate professor and UGA Cooperative Extension human development specialist.

“Cyberbullying can cause low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness and, in extreme cases, kids have considered hurting or killing themselves because of constant bullying,” Bales said. “It’s something to be taken seriously.”

Bales describes cyberbullying as any kind of aggression or emotional violence committed through social media, the internet or any electronic channel. Children may post and share things on the internet without understanding the repercussions, and many don’t realize that once something is posted online, a record of it is there forever.

“A lot of kids don’t understand that what they say and share online is public and can have negative consequences,” Bales said. “Others recognize it but don’t have the self-control or understand how the internet can hurt someone in a very public way. A lot of kids can fall prey to cyberbullying because they don’t understand how dangerous it is to share things online or how easy it is to bring others in.”

Bales recommends that parents keep the lines of communication open as their children build an online network of friends. Children need to know that they can come to their parents if they’re facing cyberbullying, and they need to know that the rules regarding considerate and kind behavior apply online just as they do in person.  

Parents should also intervene if they think their child is being cyberbullied or cyberbullying, even though this may seem like a breach of their child’s privacy.

It can be challenging to report a case of cyberbullying. Children in school should report it to teachers, counselors or other trusted adults. It may be hard to stop cyberbullying if the bully is anonymous or the cyberbullying is being committed by a stranger.

“Encourage kids to use all of the tools that are available to them,” Bales said. “If they bullying is taking place on Facebook, try blocking or reporting that person to Facebook. Do that over and over again until action is taken. That, in combination with reporting to someone, can help reduce cyberbullying attacks.”

As technology and social media continue to be present in the lives of children, it’s important to understand that there are many tools available to stop and report cyberbullying. Take action and report cyberbullying. It could save a life.

Erica Cooke is a student intern working with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Erica Cooke
Experts/Sources:
Diane W Bales
Cyberbullying can be just as harmful, both emotionally and mentally, as physical bullying, according to Diane Bales, University of Georgia associate professor and UGA Cooperative Extension human development specialist.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Manage holiday stress with kindness, boundaries 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
UGA Extension offers mindfulness and skills training to help the incarcerated reclaim their hope. CAES News
UGA Extension offers training to help the incarcerated reclaim their hope 09/30/24 Cal Powell
A train rumbles through the heart of downtown Tennille, Georgia. The southbound train cars are loaded with kaolin, the white clay that serves as the city’s main export. Avery Franklin sets his leaf blower on the ground, takes a seat on a park bench under a pecan tree and begins telling his story. He was 19 years old the first time he went to jail. He’s 63 now, released four months ago after a lifetime of petty crime. He’s sitting 3 miles from the Washington County, Georgia, jail cell where he spent most of the last three years of his life.
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices across the state. CAES News
UGA sponsoring radon poster contest for Georgia students 09/13/24 Rebecca Cantrell
Radon, an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but it can be detected and mitigated with the help of local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offices across the state. Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in granite and rocky soils, so Georgia’s wealth of granite bedrock increases the chance of household radon for its residents.
LiceCheck CAES News
A back-to-school guide to the nitty-gritty on head lice 08/12/24 Allison Johnson
As students return to school, head lice often become a common concern for administrators and parents. Understanding how to prevent and manage head lice infestations is crucial for maintaining healthy environments in schools and at home. Allison Johnson, the Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator for the University of Georgia, provides essential information and advice to help mitigate the spread of this pesky pest.
For some students, heading back to school feels like entering a pressure cooker. Parents can ease anxieties by helping their students develop strategies for handling stressful situations. CAES News
Families should make a plan to manage back-to-school stress 07/29/24 Merritt Melancon
As summer draws to an end, both students and parents need to prepare for the return to school. While a new backpack and a collection of notebooks and pens might top their to-do list, students also need to prepare emotionally, said Diane Bales, a human development specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and a professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Coastal Acres CAES News
AgrAbility program offers a Georgia farm family a new path forward 07/03/24 Jordan Powers
When a half-ton bale of hay fell off a wagon in 2019, striking the back of Donald Adams’ head, the future of his family farm fell into immediate uncertainty. More than 200 head of cattle are worked on the land at Coastal Acres, a Dearing, Georgia, operation that involves intense manual labor. “Donald sustained a C5-C6 spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the neck down,” said Laura Adams, Adams’ wife and co-owner of Coastal Acres.