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Yr 11 Revision Blog

Please check out this link http://gcsrevision.blogspot.com which has links to the Geography, English and Language Departments. More to follow shortly.

GCSE English Revision Booklet

Art Microsite

http://microsites2.segfl.org.uk/view_project.php?id=104

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is when one person or a group of people aim to threaten, tease or embarrass someone else by using a mobile phone, the internet or other technologies. If you think you have been a victim of cyberbullying talk to your parents or a teacher about it.

Are you a part of it?

Those who take part in online bullying often use a group of friends to target their victims by asking them to add a comment to a photo on a blog, or asking them to forward it onto another group of friends. Sometimes, these people don’t even realise they’re actually bullying someone.

What forms can it take?

Cyberbullying takes many forms. These are the main ones:

Email

Sending emails that can be threatening or upsetting. Emails can be sent directly to a single target, or to a group of people to encourage them to become part of the bullying. These messages or ‘hate mails’ can include examples of racism, sexism and other types of prejudice.

If someone sends you a message and you forward or laugh at it, you’re actually adding to the problem.

Instant messenger and chatrooms

Sending instant messenger and chatroom messages to friends or direct to a victim. Others can be invited into the bullying conversation, who then become part of it by laughing.

Social networking sites

Setting up profiles on social networking sites to make fun of someone. By visiting these pages or contributing to them, you become part of the problem and add to the feelings of unhappiness felt by the victim.

Mobile phone

Sending humiliating and abusive text or video messages, as well as photo messages and phone calls over a mobile phone. This includes anonymous text messages over short distances using Bluetooth technology and sharing videos of physical attacks on individuals (happy slapping).

Interactive gaming

Games consoles allow players to chat online with anyone they find themselves matched with in a multi-player game. Sometimes cyber bullies abuse other players and use threats. They can also lock victims out of games, spread false rumours about someone or hack into someone’s account.

Sending viruses

Some people send viruses or hacking programs to another person that can destroy their computers or delete personal information from their hard drive.

Abusing personal information

Many victims of cyberbullying have complained that they have seen personal photos, emails or blog postings posted where others could see it without their permission.

Social networking sites make it a lot easier for web users to get hold of personal information and photos of people. They can also get hold of someone else’s messaging accounts and chat to people pretending to be the victim.

Staying safe online

If you’re using the internet, you should never give out your personal details. If you're in a chatroom, watch what you say about where you live, the school you go to, or your email address.

As well as allowing a cyberbully to build up a picture about you and how they can hurt you, posting personal information online can attract adults who are pretending to be teenagers and lying about their real identity. For advice on how to deal with the different types of cyberbullying see below:

Cyberbullying help for pupils

Bullying is not your fault. It can be stopped and traced

Don't ignore the bullying. Tell someone you trust, such as a teacher or parent.

Text/video messaging

You can stop receiving text messages for a while by turning off incoming messages for a couple of days. To find out how to do this, visit www.wiredsafety.org.

If the bullying persists, you can change your phone number. Ask your mobile service provider (such as Orange, O2, Vodafone or T-Mobile)

Don't reply to abusive or worrying text or video messages. Your mobile service provider will have a number for you to ring or text to report phone bullying. Visit their website for details

Don't delete messages from cyberbullies. You don't have to read them, but you should keep them as evidence.

Text harassment is a crime. If the calls are simply annoying, tell a teacher, parent or carer. If they are threatening or malicious and they persist, report them to the police, taking with you all the messages you've received

Phone calls

If you get an abusive or silent phone call, don't hang up immediately. Instead, put the phone down for a while. Then hang up or turn your phone off.

Don't give out personal details such as your phone number to just anyone and never leave your phone lying around. When you answer your phone, just say 'hello', not your name

If your mobile shows the caller’s number, don’t answer it. Let it go to voicemail. Don’t leave your name on your voicemail greeting.

If you receive calls that scare or trouble you, make a note of the times and dates and report them to the police. If your mobile can record calls, take the recording too.

Mobile phone companies are taking steps to help tackle cyberbullying. Each phone company should have a number to ring to report phone bullying. For example:

Tesco Mobile: Text 'bully' to 60000 to receive advice and support

BT: 0800 666 700 or call 150 for personal advice

O2's Nuisance Call Bureau: can be contacted by email at ncb@o2.com or by calling the Customer Service Department on 0870 5214 000

Vodafone RespondPlus service: visit www.vodafone.co.uk

Emails

Never reply to unpleasant or unwanted emails

Keep the emails as evidence. Tell an adult about them

Ask an adult to contact the sender's Internet Service Provider (ISP) by writing abuse@ and then the host, e.g. abuse@hotmail.com

Never reply to someone you don't know, even if there's an option to 'unsubscribe'. Replying simply tells them your email address is real

Web bullying

If the bullying is on a school website, tell a teacher or parent, just as you would if the bullying were face-to-face

Chat rooms and instant messaging

Never give out your name, address, phone number, school name or password online. Use a nickname when online. Don't give out photos of yourself

Don't accept emails or open files from people you don't know

Remember it might not just be people your own age in a chat room

Stick to public areas in chat rooms and get out if you feel uncomfortable

Tell your parents or carers if you feel uncomfortable or worried about anything that happens in a chat room.

You might also want to have a look at http://www.stoptextbully.com/ This site has sections you can click on by using the images at the top of the page (for advice on text, email, photos, calls, chats, web and identity)