Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

Cyberbullying, also called online harassment and cyber stalking, can

involve any of these acts:

➟ Sending mean or threatening e-mails or IMs.

➟ Posting insulting, threatening, or derogatory com-

ments about someone on one or more Web sites.

➟ Spreading rumors about someone through blogs,

discussions, or social journals.

➟ Threatening physical harm or verbally intimidating

someone.

➟ Stealing and altering photos in damaging ways or

adding derogatory comments; they can then post

them on social networking sites (such as MySpace) or

send them to the victim’s friends, family, school,

employers, and so on.

➟ Pretending to be the victim by creating fake blogs to

start trouble with the victim’s friends. Posting embar-

rassing images under the victim’s identity.

The full scope of cyberbullying is difficult to measure

because of real issues surrounding underreporting.

However, research indicates that nearly one in six U.S.

children grades six to ten (that’s 3.2 million students)

are victims of online bullying every year (though chil-

dren of all ages can experience this phenomenon).

Six Steps to Avoid and Prevent Cyberbullying

Have minors in your care follow these steps to avoid cyberbullying:

➟ Keep personal information (address, phone number,

and so on), feelings, and personal photos private so

that abusing this information is more difficult for a

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Chapter 11: Grandparents Rule!