Tag Archives: EULA

Mar 22 2010
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Cyberbullying and Internet Safety

Cyberbullying

Bullying is the act of one or more persons degrading, and humiliating another verbally, physically and or mentally, or any behaviour that was not welcomed. This act is crossed over into the realm of the Internet, cyberbullying is the same as bullying except, through the means of electronic communication.  This can occur through email messages, text messages, forum posts, social networks.A medium may have wonderful opportunity to allow people to connect and communicate, but it also becomes an avenue, where those with more malicious intent can utilise as a vehicle for torment.  The danger here is that the bullying is invisible, the taunting and cruelty is projected only to that particular person.   Although the person that is suffering from cyberbullying may feel ashamed, there should be no shame in reaching for help, and telling people that there are cowards who are attacking them. Reporting this type of abuse is the best way to end it, notify the authorities, keep track of dates times of when the bullying occurs. These records might help you, as your word is only as good as the bullies. Also, all social networks, forums, or any company that offers some sort of public communication medium for its’ users have Terms of Service, Code of Conduct, or an End User License Agreement (EULA), that often stipulates that certain behaviours, like cyberbullying and or harassment is not tolerated.  Much of cyberbullying that is geared at young people, do not have adequate laws to protect them, as these laws are dated. The Internet culture amongst youths, is quite different, as they have a medium in which channeling information is at their finger tips, rather than rumours that spread.  For example, would you provide a nude physical photo of yourself to someone that asked you? I have to stipulate that the act of actually giving a photo, is much more difficult, that simply selecting a self portrait, and sending the file to someone.  Would you risk someone producing photocopies of this photo, and then allow them to share these images? These acts are much simpler, as the Internet becomes analogous to our acts in real life, the only difference is, we do not see the transactions, and therefore it appears to be invisible.

Some additional resources

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