Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying happens when kids bully each other through electronic technology. Find out why cyberbullying is different from traditional bullying, what you can do to prevent it, and how you can report it when it happens.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
Prevent Cyberbullying
Parents and kids can prevent cyberbullying. Together, they can explore safe ways to use technology.
Students Resources
Bullying
Anti-Defamation League
- Be an Ally: Six Simple Ways (PDF)
- Are You Read to Be an Ally? (English or Spanish, PDF)
- 10 Ways to Respond to Bullying (English or Spanish, PDF)
- Taking a Stand: A Student's Guide to Stop Name-Calling and Bullying (PDF)
- No Place for Hate provides schools and communities with an organizing framework for combating bias, bullying and hatred, leading to long-term solutions for creating and maintaining a positive climate
GirlsHealth.gov
GirlsHealth.gov - (Office of Women's Health) - If you've ever been the target of harsh and unkind words, you know how hurtful it can be. This section of girlshealth.gov gives you the low-down on bullying among girls, which is more common than you might think.
Facing History and Ourselves
Be the Change: Upstanders for Human Rights - interactive website for students.
Hetrick Martin Institute
The Hetrick Martin Institute provides a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 13 and 24 and their families. Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, Hetrick-Martin seeks to foster healthy youth development. Hetrick-Martin’s staff promotes excellence in the delivery of youth services and uses its expertise to create innovative programs that other organizations may use as models.
KidsHealth
National Crime Prevention Council
Advice for K-5 kids on McGruff.org
PACER Center
- "Kids Against Bullying" for elementary school students to learn about bullying prevention and how to respond to bullying situations. The site features information, celebrity videos, Webisodes, interactive games, animation, contests, and other activities..
- PACER's Teens Against Bullying is a relevant, edgy, and unique educational resource for bullying prevention designed to engage, empower and educate all teens. There are solutions—creative resources that all teens—can use to educate other teens and young people and to raise awareness in their community or to help other teens in bullying situations
- Drama: Is It Happening to You? Advice for Teens Who are Experiencing Bullying
- Bullying and Harassment of Students with Disabilities - Top 10 Facts for Parents, Educators and Students
PBS It's My Life-
What is Bullying? - No matter what situation or form it comes in, bullying can make you feel depressed, hurt, and alone. So It's My Life put together this guide to give you all the basics of dealing with bullying. (age 9-12)
Cyberbullying (Students)
CommonSense Media
- Social Networking Tips
- Online Gaming Tips
- Cyberbullying Tips: Learn the rules for safe, responsible, and respectful online behavior.
Cyberbullying Research Center
Cyberbullying Fact Sheet: What you need to know about online aggression
Teens’ Health
Dealing with Cyberbullying
Internet Safety Safe Surfing Tips for Teens
Teaching Tolerance
Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry
Other Kinds of Resources
New York City Resource Guide for Teenage Victims of Family Domestic Violence and Dating Violence, compiled by the NYC Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, is an excellent resource for students that includes hotline numbers and an index of organizations by borough.
Report Cyberbullying
When cyberbullying happens, it is important to document and report the behavior so it can be addressed.
Information for NYC Students
I have been the target of bullying behavior. What should I do?
Report your concerns
Students who believe they have been the target of bullying or intimidating behavior, harassment or discrimination by another student or by a staff member, and all students with knowledge of such behavior, should report the incident immediately.
Student-to-Student Behavior
If you believe you have been the target of bullying or intimidating behavior, harassment or discrimination by another student, please report your concerns immediately to your school’s Respect For All Liaison or to any other staff member.
If you have knowledge of such behavior happening to another student, please report the incident immediately to your school’s Respect For All Liaison or to any other staff member.
A student may make a report of bullying, intimidation, discrimination or harassment by another student in writing or orally to the school staff members listed on your school’s Respect for All posters which are displayed throughout your school or to any school staff member.
Please see the Respect For All posters displayed in your building for the staff member who are your school's Respect For All Liaisons.
Staff-to-Student Behavior
If you believe you have been the target of staff-to-student harassment, intimidation and/or bullying, please report your concerns to the principal /designee or to the Office of Special Investigations.
If you believe you have been the target of staff to student discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, citizenship/immigration status, weight, or disability, please report your concerns to the principal/designee or to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
All reports of harassment, discrimination and/or bullying behavior will be investigated. Reports should be made as soon as possible after the incident so they can be effectively investigated and addressed.
If, after reporting your concern, you need additional assistance, please email RespectForAll@schools.nyc.gov.
All reports of harassment, discrimination and/or bullying behavior will be investigated. Please see Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 for Student-to-Student Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation, and/or Bullying, and the Policy Resources section of this website for more information about related policies.
Useful Links for Parents and Students
- What's New
- Bullying
- Cyberbullying
- Respect for Diversity
- Bullying Help for Students
- Cyberbullying Help for Students
What's New
Respect for All Week
For the 2015-2016 school year, the NYC Department of Education has designated February 9-12, 2016 as Respect for All (RFA) Week in all NYC public schools. During this week, schools will have opportunities to highlight and build upon ongoing diversity programs and curriculum-based instruction. Schools will also have opportunities to embark upon new initiatives that promote respect for diversity and engage students in meaningful lessons and/or other activities that focus on preventing bias-based harassment, intimidation and/or bullying.
Bureau of Children, Youth and Families
The Bureau of Children, Youth, and Families has released two new videos on NYC Teen that feature two young adults, Joseph and Amanda, who share their journey about coming to terms with their own sexual identity and finding self-acceptance. Their stories speak to all youth and let others know that even through tough times, there is hope and help. All the videos (on topics such as bullying, anger, stress, dating violence, etc.) on NYC Teen have educational materials that teens and adults that work with them can access, including fact sheets, quizzes, polls, and resource guides. There is a direct and secure e-mail address for LIFENET that teens can use in addition to calling 1-800-LifeNet for support. To view the videos go to www.nyc.gov/teenand click on the images on the home page.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media has posted Parents' Top 10 Cyberbullying Questions in support of National Bullying Prevention Month. In addition, click here to learn about the 15 Social Media Tools Parents Need to Know About
SAMHSA
To Prevent Bullying the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched KnowBullying - a free smartphone app that provides parents, caretakers, educators, and others information and support to address youth bullying. The KnowBullying mobile app, developed in collaboration with the federal partnership StopBullying.gov is available for iPhone and Android users.
Key features include:
* How to start a conversation with a child about bullying
* How to prevent bullying for ages 3-6, 7-13, and older teens
* How to recognize whether bullying is affecting a child
* How and when to talk with children about bullying issues
* Getting advice and support through social media-Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and text messages
* Educator-focused strategies for preventing bullying in the classroom and supporting children who are being bullied
Download the KnowBullying app and the promotional postcard and flier .
Learn about more resources at StopBullying.gov.