Around the world the month of February is designated to officially promote kindness: Valentine’s Day (Feb 14), Random Acts of Kindness (Feb 17), Family Day (Feb 17), Pink Shirt Day (Feb 26). We recognize the power of strong connections and belonging and the impact of being excluded and targeted. Promoting the value of healthy relationships, respect for self and others, and consciously choosing to use technology for supporting learning and positive communication are the goals of the #Relationship initiative. Our youth are immersed in an online world where these values can be supported, but are often challenged. One of those challenges is cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying includes posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include excluding or sharing personal of private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Additionally, cyberbullying can be:
- Persistent – Posting can occur 24/7 and sharing is instant.
- Permanent – Information can be permanent, if not removed.
- Hard to Notice – Teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place.
Did you know? 42% of young people (age 12-17 years) have been bullied online, but only 10% will report this to an adult. 60% of young people have witnessed online bullying and most do not intervene. However, 4 out 5 students would intervene if they could do it anonymously. (Source) What do we know about cyberbullying and how can we support youth in understanding, responding and dealing with incidents of cyberbullying, both experienced and witnessed? This month’s email takes a proactive approach to support students and parents on the topic of cyberbullying.
For parents who are interested in reading further on the topic of #Relationships in a Digital Age, CTR staff Recommended Reads are located on CTR's website under About and #Relationships.
Additional articles related to this topic can be found at #Relationships on the CTR Catholic website.
