Bullies are notorious for tormenting their victims face to face – at school, on the playground, in sports. But now, cyberbullying (or online bullying) opens the door to 24-hour harassment through computers, mobile phones, gaming consoles, and other Internet-enabled means.

The full scope of cyberbullying–using the Internet for repeated, unwanted, or cruel behavior against someone–is difficult to measure. However, research indicates that between 30% and 50% of teens report having been a victim of online bullying. A Microsoft study showed that two in five parents surveyed, reported that their teen has been affected by cyberbullying, either as a victim, bully, or witness.

Microsoft this year supported Safer Internet Day, a global campaign promoting a healthy Internet for all, organized by Insafe and co-founded by the European Union to promote more responsible use of online technologies and services. In this regard, Microsoft Malta has joined forces with the eLearning Centre and produced and distributed educational material to all pupils, parents and teachers in all Government schools in Malta and Gozo.

Over 37,000 stickers and bookmarks; over 34,000 guidelines for parents of all primary, secondary and higher secondary students; and almost 4,000 teachers guides to online safety leaflets for all teachers, have been published by Microsoft Malta and handed over to the eLearning Centre for distribution.

“Microsoft feels very strongly about the importance of securing a safe internet environment especially when it comes to protecting children from online risks and cyberbullying. This is why Microsoft Malta, like the rest of Microsoft worldwide, has joined forces with the local education sector to promote the importance of keeping our children safe from any form of internet abuse,” explains Fiorella Ellul Sullivan, Academic Program Manager at Microsoft Malta Ltd who is also responsible for Microsoft’s Citizenship Programme. “As a corporate socially responsible citizen with a heavy presence in the community within which it operates, Microsoft Malta gives top priority to internet safety issues and is constantly promoting the importance of a healthier internet environment that starts educating children from their very first years.”

As stated in a recently conducted study by Microsoft in the US, parents and educators both express familiarity with and growing concern about cyberbullying. In this study, 76% of the educators interviewed believe that cyberbullying is a very or somewhat serious problem at their school and as big an issue as smoking and drugs (75%). However, it also appears that many parents and educators tend to engage only after cyberbullying becomes a problem; a lot of schools and parents are in fact taking action but more can be done.

Such findings also shed light on how a series of steps taken by parents and educators to address the problem proactively can have the potential to prevent a significant number of cyberbullying events. Indeed, parents can become better at helping protect their children from cyberbullying through greater awareness and better education.

But how does cyberbullying work? Unlike physical bullying, where the victim can often walk away, the Internet is always “on.” And, cyberbullying can be virtually invisible to parents and other adults. A cyberbully may send hurtful or threatening messages to a victim’s phone, harass a person in an online game, post embarrassing pictures on a social website like Facebook, or share a humiliating video online. Forwarding confidential emails or text messages, deliberately shutting someone out of an online group, impersonating the victim and then posting hateful comments on a blog or pretending to befriend someone, gain his or her trust, and then betray that trust are all forms of cyberbullying.

The consequences of cyberbullying are equally harsh. Victims of cyberbullying may withdraw from friends, avoid school, experience depression, lash out, consider–or even commit–suicide. And, the bully’s abuse can echo forever when college administrators, employers, friends, and others who search the Internet for a name years later may find the lies and insults.

Help kids avoid cyberbullying

• Encourage children to make friends and look out for each other.

• Watch over kids. Ask about online activities and look for signs of online bullying.

• Talk with kids about cyberbullying. Encourage them to come to you and not to be bullies themselves—make the consequences clear; urge kids not to share personal information or devices that could be used to bully them.

What to do if someone is cyberbullying your child

• Act immediately by letting them know you can and will help.

• Acknowledge the pain. Affirm what happened isn’t right and that they’re not at fault.

• Tell your kids not to respond or retaliate, but save any evidence for authorities.

• Block anyone whose behavior is inappropriate or threatening.

• Report the problem. Consider reporting fellow students to the school. Report bullying on a website where the abuse occurred. (e.g. in Microsoft services or software look for a report abuse link or contact www.microsoft.com/reportabuse.)

Educators can take a proactive approach to cyberbullying before it becomes a greater problem at school. We recommend schools take the following steps

• Develop and implement a formal policy for the school.

• Provide training on how to address cyberbullying for faculty and staff.

• Provide education for students and parents on:

• What cyberbullying is and how it works.

• How to help kids avoid cyberbullying.

• What to do if a child is a cyberbully or is being cyberbullied.