Cyberbullying and digital ethics
Amore Florianna, Delle Fave Isabella, Di Criscio Chiara, Lucetti Luna, Luporini Lorenzo and Urgias Lisa 5ASU
What is cyberbullying and how it is connected to digital citizenship
Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It may be easier to bully online because: - people can have a feeling of safe distance, saying and doing things they probably wouldn’t do face to face; - the bully is not seeing how he/she hurts the other person feelings. Cyberbullying can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. Bullying and cyberbullying both consist of a repeated behaviour, aimed at:
- scaring,
- angering
- or shaming
those who are targeted.
Characteristics of cyberbullying
1. No limits of time and space: Cyberbullies can reach a person 24/7 everywhere. The victim does not feel safe in any place anymore and can be constantly persecuted, because cyberbullying can act on the infinite "territory" of the web
4. Permanence of contents: Defamatory materials are difficult to delete completely from the web. It freezes the humiliation and makes the person feel constantly persecuted.
2. Anonymity and fake profiles: The bully can hide, increasing the victim's sense of powerlessness. They often use the fake profile, and from this comes the phenomenon of "keyboard warriors".
5. Absence of immediate feedback: Not seeing the victim's emotional reaction, the bully often does not understand the gravity of their actions. This increases the lack of empathy.
3. Speed of diffusion: Offensive contents can become viral quickly, amplifying the humiliation. These types of contents, often used as a threat.
6. The typical places where it happens: Cyberbullying does not happen in a physical place, but in a "virtual square", potentially visible and accessible to everyone. It happens especially on social media, chats or online video games.
What are the main examples of cyberbullying?
The most common behaviours are:
- posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media
- sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms
- impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf (or through fake accounts)
How to recognize cyberbullying: All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt someone else. Anyone who feels hurt or think others are laughing at her/him - instead of with her/him - should consider that probably the “joke has gone too far”.
Lack of digital citizenship: Cyberbullying incidents are tied to a lack of digital citizenship education. Many people are unaware of how to use technology safely, legally, and responsibly. A digital citizen instead, is a person who “recognizes the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world and acts in ways that are safe, legal and ethical”
Cyberbullying can be upsetting and scary, and it can cause all sorts of negative emotions.
It can feel like a complete invasion, even when you’re in a normally safe place like your bedroom; It can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home; It can seem like there’s no escape… Cyberbullying can affect a person in many ways:
- Emotionally – feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
- Physically – loosing sleep, or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches
- Mentally – feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, afraid or angry
Causes of cyerbullyng
☆Anonymity and Impunity: Many users feel invisible behind a screen. This leads to a false sense of security, making them believe they can ignore rules and face no consequences. ☆Lack of Empathy: Because there is no face-to-face contact, it is harder to see the victim’s pain. This "digital distance" makes people act more cruelly than they would in person. ☆Desire for Power or Attention: Some individuals use digital platforms to gain social status or control. They seek "likes" or followers by putting others down. ☆Peer Pressure (Group Influence): People often join in online attacks to feel part of a group. In a digital crowd, individuals feel less personally responsible for their actions. ☆Poor Digital Ethics Education: The root cause is often a lack of awareness. Many do not understand that "virtual is real" and that ethical behavior is just as important online as it is offline.
Infographic
Digital Ethics – Basic Principles
1. Respect for Others 2. Responsibility for Online Actions 3. Awareness of Consequences 4. Correct Use of Information
The psychological consequences for victims
The anonymity of the cyberbully further widens the power gap with the victim
Guilt
34% of adolescents
9%
Shame
Physical characteristics
2%
Cultural motivations
1%
Motivations related to sexual orientation and gender identity
As time goes by:
- Introverted and withdrawn
- Decline in academic performance
- Lose interest
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self-harming behaviors
Helplessness
03.20
The psychological consequences for victims
The victim may experience a constant sense of humiliation, accompanied by social isolation and depressive symptoms
Victims may suffer possible repercussions on socialization processes and overall quality of life, even after the harassment has ended
"Victims of bullying in childhood were at increased risk of anxiety disorders in adulthood, and those who were both victims and perpetrators were at increased risk of adult depression and panic disorder."
Cyberbullying can compromise general psychophysical well-being!!!
An awesome title
Contextualize your topic with a subtitle
Effects of Bullying on Bullies
- Reduced Empathy
- Normalization of Violence
- Future Relationship Problems
- Increased Risk of Antisocial Behavior
- Emotional and Psychological Consequences
Bystanders generally fall into three categories:
The role of bystanders is essential in stopping cyberbullying. Because these actions happen online, the bully often needs an audience to feel powerful.
☆Supporters: They do not start the bullying, but they help by sharing the post or adding "likes." This encourages the bully.☆Passive Bystanders: They see the bullying but do nothing. This silence is often seen as a form of agreement, even if they don't mean it.☆Defenders: They help the victim by reporting the content or offering support.
Bystanders have the power to change the situation for two main reasons:
☆Removing the Audience: If nobody "likes" or shares the message, the bully loses interest.☆Reporting: Using the "report" button on social media is a simple and safe way to stop the abuse.
When people stop being silent and start acting, the cyberbullying usually ends very quickly.
Prevention and Solution
Prevention:
Digital Citizenship Education: Schools and parents should teach media literacy, focusing on empathy, respect, and the ethical use of technology.Privacy Awareness: Users should be encouraged to use strict privacy settings and be mindful of the information they share online. Promoting "Upstander" Behavior: Encouraging witnesses to report abuse rather than remaining passive can significantly reduce the impact and duration of bullying incidents. Report and Block: Use the reporting tools available on social media platforms
Prevention and Solution
General solutions: a) Psychological Support Counseling and restorative justice programs ( victim and bully) b) Parental Intervention Monitoring digital activities Legislative solutions and responsabilities. Law 71/2017 (Legge 71/2017)
Italy => first European country to enact a specific law for the prevention and contrast of
cyberbullying.
- Right to be Forgotten
- School Responsibility: Every school must designate a "referent teacher" forcyberbullying
- Civil Liability (Culpa in Educando): Parents may be held financially responsible for damages caused by their children if they failed to provide proper education and supervision.
- School Liability (Culpa in Vigilando)
- Criminal Consequences: Acts of cyberbullying can fall under criminal charges such as defamation, stalking, or private violence.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, cyberbullying is the result of a technical problem but, also a human one. Technology is not the only cause of evil because without human intention, technology would be neutral.
The human component lives in three emptinesses:
1. Lack of Empathy: The bully forgets there is a real person behind the screen. They do not realize the impact of their actions.2. The Role of "Bystanders" (Spectators): People who watch but don't help are part of the problem. Giving a "like" or staying silent helps the bully. Technology makes it easy to be an accomplice while staying passive.3. Emotional Problems: Many bullies act because they are bored or don't know how to manage their emotions.
- The human problem can only be solved with digital empathy education and relational responsibility, so the Digital ethics.
Digital ethics tells us that behind every profile there is a real person.If we are active and responsible, technology will be a good thing and not a danger.
Thank You For The Attention
Cyberbullying and digital ethics
Chiara Di Criscio
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Transcript
Cyberbullying and digital ethics
Amore Florianna, Delle Fave Isabella, Di Criscio Chiara, Lucetti Luna, Luporini Lorenzo and Urgias Lisa 5ASU
What is cyberbullying and how it is connected to digital citizenship
Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It may be easier to bully online because: - people can have a feeling of safe distance, saying and doing things they probably wouldn’t do face to face; - the bully is not seeing how he/she hurts the other person feelings. Cyberbullying can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. Bullying and cyberbullying both consist of a repeated behaviour, aimed at:
- scaring,
- angering
- or shaming
those who are targeted.Characteristics of cyberbullying
1. No limits of time and space: Cyberbullies can reach a person 24/7 everywhere. The victim does not feel safe in any place anymore and can be constantly persecuted, because cyberbullying can act on the infinite "territory" of the web
4. Permanence of contents: Defamatory materials are difficult to delete completely from the web. It freezes the humiliation and makes the person feel constantly persecuted.
2. Anonymity and fake profiles: The bully can hide, increasing the victim's sense of powerlessness. They often use the fake profile, and from this comes the phenomenon of "keyboard warriors".
5. Absence of immediate feedback: Not seeing the victim's emotional reaction, the bully often does not understand the gravity of their actions. This increases the lack of empathy.
3. Speed of diffusion: Offensive contents can become viral quickly, amplifying the humiliation. These types of contents, often used as a threat.
6. The typical places where it happens: Cyberbullying does not happen in a physical place, but in a "virtual square", potentially visible and accessible to everyone. It happens especially on social media, chats or online video games.
What are the main examples of cyberbullying?
The most common behaviours are:
How to recognize cyberbullying: All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt someone else. Anyone who feels hurt or think others are laughing at her/him - instead of with her/him - should consider that probably the “joke has gone too far”.
Lack of digital citizenship: Cyberbullying incidents are tied to a lack of digital citizenship education. Many people are unaware of how to use technology safely, legally, and responsibly. A digital citizen instead, is a person who “recognizes the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world and acts in ways that are safe, legal and ethical”
Cyberbullying can be upsetting and scary, and it can cause all sorts of negative emotions.
It can feel like a complete invasion, even when you’re in a normally safe place like your bedroom; It can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home; It can seem like there’s no escape… Cyberbullying can affect a person in many ways:
Causes of cyerbullyng
☆Anonymity and Impunity: Many users feel invisible behind a screen. This leads to a false sense of security, making them believe they can ignore rules and face no consequences. ☆Lack of Empathy: Because there is no face-to-face contact, it is harder to see the victim’s pain. This "digital distance" makes people act more cruelly than they would in person. ☆Desire for Power or Attention: Some individuals use digital platforms to gain social status or control. They seek "likes" or followers by putting others down. ☆Peer Pressure (Group Influence): People often join in online attacks to feel part of a group. In a digital crowd, individuals feel less personally responsible for their actions. ☆Poor Digital Ethics Education: The root cause is often a lack of awareness. Many do not understand that "virtual is real" and that ethical behavior is just as important online as it is offline.
Infographic
Digital Ethics – Basic Principles
1. Respect for Others 2. Responsibility for Online Actions 3. Awareness of Consequences 4. Correct Use of Information
The psychological consequences for victims
The anonymity of the cyberbully further widens the power gap with the victim
Guilt
34% of adolescents
9%
Shame
Physical characteristics
2%
Cultural motivations
1%
Motivations related to sexual orientation and gender identity
As time goes by:
Helplessness
03.20
The psychological consequences for victims
The victim may experience a constant sense of humiliation, accompanied by social isolation and depressive symptoms
Victims may suffer possible repercussions on socialization processes and overall quality of life, even after the harassment has ended
"Victims of bullying in childhood were at increased risk of anxiety disorders in adulthood, and those who were both victims and perpetrators were at increased risk of adult depression and panic disorder."
Cyberbullying can compromise general psychophysical well-being!!!
An awesome title
Contextualize your topic with a subtitle
Effects of Bullying on Bullies
Bystanders generally fall into three categories:
The role of bystanders is essential in stopping cyberbullying. Because these actions happen online, the bully often needs an audience to feel powerful.
☆Supporters: They do not start the bullying, but they help by sharing the post or adding "likes." This encourages the bully.☆Passive Bystanders: They see the bullying but do nothing. This silence is often seen as a form of agreement, even if they don't mean it.☆Defenders: They help the victim by reporting the content or offering support.
Bystanders have the power to change the situation for two main reasons:
☆Removing the Audience: If nobody "likes" or shares the message, the bully loses interest.☆Reporting: Using the "report" button on social media is a simple and safe way to stop the abuse.
When people stop being silent and start acting, the cyberbullying usually ends very quickly.
Prevention and Solution
Prevention:
Digital Citizenship Education: Schools and parents should teach media literacy, focusing on empathy, respect, and the ethical use of technology.Privacy Awareness: Users should be encouraged to use strict privacy settings and be mindful of the information they share online. Promoting "Upstander" Behavior: Encouraging witnesses to report abuse rather than remaining passive can significantly reduce the impact and duration of bullying incidents. Report and Block: Use the reporting tools available on social media platforms
Prevention and Solution
General solutions: a) Psychological Support Counseling and restorative justice programs ( victim and bully) b) Parental Intervention Monitoring digital activities Legislative solutions and responsabilities. Law 71/2017 (Legge 71/2017) Italy => first European country to enact a specific law for the prevention and contrast of cyberbullying.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, cyberbullying is the result of a technical problem but, also a human one. Technology is not the only cause of evil because without human intention, technology would be neutral.
The human component lives in three emptinesses:
1. Lack of Empathy: The bully forgets there is a real person behind the screen. They do not realize the impact of their actions.2. The Role of "Bystanders" (Spectators): People who watch but don't help are part of the problem. Giving a "like" or staying silent helps the bully. Technology makes it easy to be an accomplice while staying passive.3. Emotional Problems: Many bullies act because they are bored or don't know how to manage their emotions.
- The human problem can only be solved with digital empathy education and relational responsibility, so the Digital ethics.
Digital ethics tells us that behind every profile there is a real person.If we are active and responsible, technology will be a good thing and not a danger.Thank You For The Attention