Addressing Cyberbullying

Omar’s favorite student was Rashed. He was brilliant in academics and always at the forefront in discussions and competitions.

However, lately, he was very quiet and did not participate as he used to. He would avoid making eye contact with Omar and go the other way when he saw him in the school corridor and he was mostly seen by himself. Omar wondered if the boy was had any troubles or problems that kids his age usually have or had issues at home.

One day, Omar came across Rashed’s picture on an online page and noticed that Rashed had become the subject of a cruel joke, that started as a harmless joke but it became a harsh mockery with repeated insults piling upon Rashed. Omar was infuriated. He had to do something about this bullying - but, what could he do?

Forbidding technology is not the right solution. As an educator, you can influence a student’s value system to know right from wrong. You are a powerful force to educate, empower, encourage, and promote an environment of respect and love towards peers and outsiders. This also requires that you have a good relationship with your students and guide them in case they faced problems, such as cyberbullying and other problems whether at home, in their daily life, or in the online world.

Cyberbullying can take many forms and knowing how to address this will help you prevent related crimes. Be on the lookout for any change in student behavior. Some students trust and feel comfortable sharing their concerns with educators rather than parents out of fear of punishment. As an educator, you can build on the trust that they have placed in you.

What can you do?

1. The first step is to encourage the students to strike a balance between their online activity and their real-world interactions with people. This will help them foster a healthy self-image.
2. The second step is to ensure that your school has cyber safety policies in place. Take the initiative and encourage the admiration to agree on what is acceptable as online behavior.
3. The third step is to become the bridge between parents, administration, and children when cyberbullying is suspected or identified.

How to handle cases of when students got cyberbullied?

Begin by having a one-to-one discussion with the student to find out his/her concerns and worries. Be a good listener an when you have gained their confidence, encourage the student by assuring them that everything will be alright and work with him to gather evidence of the cyberbullying incident. Inform the school administration with the supporting evidence and arrange for a meeting with the student’s parents. Ensure that everyone understands how to deal with the student and make sure he is safe and secure.

After getting the parents' approval, give a report to the online security authorities, if necessary, especially if the matter was directly related to the reputation or safety of the students and their families, and provide evidence then wait for further instructions from the relevant authorities.

Be an educator, encourager, and protector.