An Old Pandemic Combines Forces with a New a Pandemic: Cyberbullying During Covid-19

An old pandemic combines forces with a new a pandemic- cyberbullying during Covid-19


With the outbreak of Covid-19, education has had to rely solely on technology for instruction and communication.  The increased use of learning platforms and social media apps with two way communication technology, cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent and harder to recognize.  Many are now teachers and administrators, having to  teach their kids in the home schooling arena.  Parents may be exhausted and not paying attention to what their kids are doing online during non-school hours creating a blindspot for cyberbullying and victimization. The Cyberbullying Research Center reports that feelings of loneliness, lack of mental health counseling and mentoring from teachers are all likely to lead to an increase in cyberbullying.




What Parents and Educators Can Do

  • Communicate-  let students know they can talk to you if they are  being cyberbullied, digitally harassed or  cyberstalked

  • Familiarize yourselves with the website/apps

  • Educators keep close tabs on all online interactions 

  • Keep your home computer(s) out in the open-  monitor your child’s computer

  • In online learning platforms set expectations and standards immediately and clearly for respectful behavior among your students.

  • encourage your students to send you screenshots or screen recordings of any rule violations

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2020/04/18/idle-time--family-dynamics-and-low-self-esteem-make-perfect-recipe-for-cyber-bullying


https://blog.chocchildrens.org/cyberbullying-and-covid-19/

 

https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/covid-19-cyberbullying.php

Comments

  1. BrittanyJune 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

    As educational leaders, we certainly have exercise new muscles. However, the skill sets that are required to navigate the online platform are not new. We just have to be creative in ways in which these skills show up and how we are engaging our school community.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 1, 2020 at 9:19 AM

    I think it is important that educators and parents are vigilant in supporting students in becoming productive digital citizens. Monitoring is key. Not only does communicating with students encourages proper digital behaviors; it supports social emotional learning, allowing opportunities for understanding why students cyber-bully or are victims of cyber bullying.

    ReplyDelete

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