Cyberbullying in the Modern Age of Technology

In today's modern age of technology, cyberbullying has become increasingly more prevalent in the lives of the children we serve as teachers. Simply, cyberbullying can be defined as bullying that occurs in a digital space whether that be through messaging apps, social media platforms, chat rooms, video calls, etc. Often, cyberbullying involves posting mean/hateful content on these various digital spaces.  Cyberbullying is important because ultimately, nothing is ever truly erased from the Internet, and can affect the outcomes of a student's future. Additionally, because bullying is such an important and prominent issue in schools, teachers are required by law in most states to report it. This includes forms of online bullying. As teachers, it is important to be on the lookout for warning signs of online bullying. Luckily, there are some ways to watch out for it. A few tips include obvious increases or decreases in the use of technology, the child may prefer to be alone and not engage in social interactions, or the child seems to be generally depressed, as well as other warning signs. If a teacher senses that a child is being bullied online, it is imperative that the teacher speaks with not only the child but also the parents privately. It is also extremely important that teachers are educated on digital awareness, so they can have the ability to intervene when necessary. Also, discussing this with students and increasing their awareness of cyberbullying is an excellent prevention tactic. 

Luckily, I have never been the victim of an online bully. However, from my schooling experience, I do have memories of some of my classmates that were. I believe that it is incredibly important that teachers have a good sense of digital awareness so that they can understand and intervene when necessary in cyberbullying cases. I think it is important to be aware of the social standings of the children in the classroom so that it can be easier to pick out situations like these. Being an advocate for children who are experiencing this is important because not only does it affect things such as their self-esteem, confidence, social-emotional development, but it can also affect their academic performance. Online bullying is something that is not worth risking a future over, so intervening and settling the issue before it gets to that point is important and something I plan to be cognizant of as I become a teacher.