WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?

Cyberbullying is using technological means to intimidate, spread rumors/slander, harass, threaten, or otherwise use digital media to abuse someone mentally, emotionally, or verbally. Cyberbullying has the potential to cause intense harm to others because it can happen anytime, be carried around with a person anywhere, and spread quickly in ways that can never be undone.

An element of cyberbullying that is of particular concern is that sometimes children, youth, or adults don’t realize that they are cyberbullying either because of ignorance about online etiquette or because digital interactions often don’t have the benefit of the kind of nonverbal communication that happens in face-to-face communication. Also, the ability to be anonymous online or hide behind a digital medium can also too often leave people saying or doing things through digital means that they wouldn’t do face-to-face.

WHAT IS #CYBERKIND?

Cyberkindness is using technological means to uplift, serve, love, improve someone’s day, or otherwise use digital media to make life easier for someone, emotionally strengthen them, or mentally uplift them.

One of the best ways to combat Cyberbullying is to prevent it or change the desire to bully by teaching empathy and kindness. Help your students stand up for others and be the digital change by helping, serving, and uplifting others.

We recommend getting ideas from #UseTech4Good, Be an Upstander, #ICanHelp, and The Upstander Brand. Please share on social media (or email us) how you and your kids/students #UseTech4Good and are #CyberKind on social media.

Curricula

Common Sense Education

Grades:

K-12

NearPod & Common Sense Education

Grades:

K-12

“The digital citizenship curriculum from Common Sense Education combined with interactive activities, assessments, and real-time feedback from Nearpod.”

Netsmartz

Grades:

K-12

“NetSmartz is specifically designed not to function as a traditional curriculum, but rather as an adaptable resource that can fit into the demanding curricula in today’s schools. NetSmartz activities can be used in any order and fit almost any time frame, allowing you to customize the integration of the resources to suit your students’ needs.” It includes animated videos and documentary shorts for classroom lessons, internet safety presentations, safety pledges, handouts, and teachable recipes.

Grades:

7-12

“Whether you teach in the classroom, lead a youth group, or work with teens in another setting, Words Wound can help you guide your young people as they learn about cyberbullying, consider their own attitudes and actions (and those of others), and think about ways to delete cyberbullying and make kindness go viral.” Each student should have their own copy of the book (Book price starts at $9.99/kindle version) to utilize during class sessions—and to take home and read—to complete instructional activities. For educators, there is a Leader’s Guide to accompany this book. This is free to download.

Videos

At-A-Distance

Grades:

4-12

Cyberbullying Research Center

Grades:

3-12

NetSmartz

Grades:

K-3

NetSmartz Real Life Stories

Grades:

6-12

NS Teens

Grades:

6-12

Interactive Games

Carnegie Cadets: The MySecureCyberspace Game

Grades:

K-12

Common Sense Media Digital Compass

Grades:

6-9

“Learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship through animated, choose-your-own-adventure interactive experiences, designed for grades 6-9. Invite students to explore digital dilemmas, make good (and not-so-good) decisions, and try out possible solutions through stories and mini-games – all without risking their real-world reputations.”