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Cyber Bullying. Its getting stronger. It knows who you are and can hurt you without even touching you. A little scary. Especially when it starts happening to someone you know.

A family member of mine recently started receiving anonymous phone calls that at first were just dead air. But the joke with that couldn't last long so now they talk to her and her friend asking them where they live but still remaining anyonymous. They've even gone farther by calling up other friends and asking them where the two girls live. On the outside it sounds like the guys playing the prank are friends from out of town but I'm pretty certain its actually friends of hers much closer to home. They know too many phone numbers and names to trully be stalkers.

Sounds like normal child hazing? So did all the pranks on kids over the last 10 years resulting in school shootings and child suicides. The kids pulling the pranks probably think its funny and that they were just having fun. But imparting fear to someone on a long term basis is not funny nor fun. It can have dire consequences as stated above.

Cyber Bullying is the use of electronic devices and information, such as e-mail, instant messaging (IM), text messages, mobile phones, pagers and web sites, to send or post cruel or harmful messages or images about an individual or a group. This is a freer form of bullying than traditional physical or name-calling attacks as the individual(s) responsible can be anonymous. Also, unlike standard bullying, there is no respite or refuge for the victims as cyber bullying can go on 24-hours a day and invade a victim's home.

One-third of all teens and one-sixth of all pre-teens have had mean, threatening or embarrassing things written about them online. Two million-plus don't ever tell anyone - a teacher, a parent, a sibling, a friend.

Here are some things we can do to help prevent this type of harassment:

• Teach your kids to tell adults if they're bullied
• Every school must have a proven anti-bullying program
• Watch for signs that your child may be a victim
• Keep computers in common areas of homes
• If bullying persists call the police and get assistance! (added by me)
  

Links
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Cyber-Bullying on the Rise
CYBER BULLYING