School takes steps against online bullying
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Most parents keeping an eye on their children's computer conversations know what it means when their child is LOL (laughing out loud) at something they've read or that their friend will BRB (be right back) after dinner.

But how many know what it means when someone tells another to DIAF? How about 182?

Bullying via e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging and through online community sites like Facebook and MySpace is rapidly increasing. Do parents think their kids will tell them if it's happening to them? Well, DETAI or YBS that you did.

Assistant District Attorney Julie Lesure wants to make sure that all parents are armed with the information they need to address this new, computer-age harassment.

"If your child feels a substantial amount of emotional distress, if they don't want to go to school, are seeking help from the guidance counselor or attempted suicide, which is the worst-case scenario, … that falls under the Criminal Harassment Law," Lesure said. "After three or more separate incidents of name calling, teasing or any kind of other off ensive message, you can go to court."

Victims of cyberbullying may appear sad or depressed, have trouble sleeping, lose interest in school, or have trouble maintaining grades.

During a seminar on cyberbullying at Oak Middle School March 19, Lesure encouraged parents to be proactive in the fight against online bullying.

"If you child receives a threat via [instant messaging], e-mail, text, MySpace or posted on their blog, print in out and contact the police," she said. "They can trace it, but time is of the essence."

Examples of cyberbullying include posting rumors on blog sites, uploading embarrassing photos on websites, sending threatening text messages and excluding people from online communities.

Cyberbullies can also victimize students by gaining their passwords and posing as them online.

Children who have become targets of online bullies are advised to not respond to any of the off ensive messages, save all communications from the bully, and block that person's e-mail, instant messages and phone number from their computer and phone.

Parents should report the problem to the police, school officials, the Internet and phone service provider, and the other child's parents.

There are ways to help prevent cyberbullying from occurring in the first place.

Lesure said keeping students' computers in a common area like the living room instead of in their bedrooms, making sure children don't send messages to people they don't know personally, checking their browsing history, installing blocking software and limiting the amount of time they spend on the computer are all eff ective ways of cutting down on their chances of becoming an online victim.

They are also some of the ways parents can cut down on the chances of their child becoming an online bully.

Cyberbullies are typically children and, in some cases, adults who show limited amounts of respect or empathy toward others. They very often spend a lot of time on the computer and are very secretive about their computer use.

Lesure said people who believe their child may be harassing others online are encouraged to work with school officials, counselors and the child to address the problem.