Solutions

(Beyond Blue, 2015)

How to help a child being cyber bullied

• Encourage open communication with kids and teenagers about the internet to let you know if they feel bullied or intimated.

• Empower them to know there is help and ways in which they can protect themselves.

• An example of empowerment is to block the bully and change privacy settings.

• Learn about and download the Cybersaftey Help Button here.

• If someone has posted anything inappropriate about your child online, contact the social media service provider to remove it.

• Collect evidence; screenshots of incriminating messages, images, conversations and print emails.

• Report cyberbullying to your child's school or if warranted, the local police.

• Be informed and educate yourself about popular games, apps and social networking sites for young people at the Office of Childrens eSafety Commissioner site. (Australian Government; Office of the Childrens eSafety Commissioner, 2015)

(StopBullying.gov, 2015)

Where to get help

Online information

• Children's eSafety Commissioner - 1800 880 176

Report an incident of cyberbullying or related event

• ThinkUKnow - Youth website
• Crimestoppers - 1800 333 000
• Local police station
• ACORN - Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network

Emotional support and advice

• Headspace
• Kids Help Line - 1800 551 800
• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• Reachout

(Australian Government; Office of the Childrens eSafety Commissioner, 2015)

Consequences

(stopbullying.gov, 2015)

The impact of cyberbullying on the victim

• How a person responds to being cyberbullied is individual for everyone.

• Various responses, as mentioned in “The Issue” post are common.  Some of these common reactions are; feeling alone or isolated, anxious, scared, miserable and powerless as well as sadness, ashamed, rejected and/or hopeless.

• Cyberbullying is often unprovoked and unfair.  Therefore, often the victim responds in anger, as the cyberbullying attack is unwarranted.

• Cyberbullying can impact many aspects of the victims’ life including their relationships with friends and family, their performance in school or in their sporting interests to name a few.

• Cyberbullying can lead to anxiety and depression. (Beyond Blue, 2015)

The impact of cyberbullying on the perpetrator

• “Whilst cyberbullying doesn't appear in any Australian laws, the actions which we call cyberbullying could fall under other laws, such as stalking, harassment and defamation.” (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)

• “In Australia, the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old which means that if you are 10 years old or above, you could be held criminally responsible for your actions.” (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)

• Vilification is a crime which can be committed via the internet or email and is described in more detail in the previous blog post.  In Queensland it falls under the anti-discrimination act 1991 – sect 131A. (Australasian Legal Information Institute, 2015)

• If convicted of vilification, the maximum penalty for an individual is six months imprisonment (Australasian Legal Information Institute, 2015).

  

Illegal or just unethical

(StopBullying.gov, n.d.)

• Cyberbullying by its very nature is unethical.

• There isn’t a specific law against cyberbullying, however, there are laws against the following related offences;

• Stalking
• Bullying
• Assaults/threats
• Harassment
• Vilification (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)

• Vilification can be defined as "knowingly or recklessly incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule on the grounds of race, religion, sexuality or gender identity in a way that includes threatening or inciting physical harm. This may be done via internet or email.” (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)

• For information on cyberbullying related laws relevant by State refer to the ThinkUKnow hyperlink.

• The Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN, n.d.) states that, “under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) it is an offence to use the internet, social media or a telephone to menace, harass or cause offence. The maximum penalty for this offence is three years imprisonment or a fine of more than $30,000.” (ACORN, n.d.)

• Australian children are protected by the Federal Government via the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.  Children are able to submit a complaint if cyberbullying is experienced.  

• Follow the ACORN link to learn more about cyber-crime and/or to “Report a cybercrime”.