Title:	ONLINE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE SPACE: STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF HOW AND WHY CYBERBULLYING OCCURS
Author(s):	Catherine Mcloughlin , Jil Burgess
ISBN:	978-972-8924-83-6
Editors:	Miguel Baptista Nunes and Maggie McPherson (series editors: Piet Kommers, Pedro Isaías and Nian-Shing Chen)
Year:	2009
Edition:	V II, 2
Keywords:	Social networking, cyberbullying, cyberspace, e-safety, media literacy, Web 2.0
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	83
Last Page:	88
Language:	English
Cover:
Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	Online social networking sites offer a different form of social space to that of face-to-face interaction, and with these changes negative forms of cyber expression may emerge. Traditional or schoolyard bullies can now also use cyberspace to victimise, abuse and threaten their victims in what is now known as cyberbullying, otherwise known as e-bullying, electronic bullying, mobile bullying or online bullying. In this paper, we review the literature on the underlying causes of this behaviour. Using data from an Australian study, student perceptions of why and how cyberbullying episodes occur are presented. The findings indicate that instant messaging, mobile phones and social networking sites are contexts where cyberbullying occur, and that girls are more likely to be victims than boys. The survey results show that students had well developed knowledge of e-safety strategies and that few felt threatened online. Respondents overall felt confident in using a range of mobile tools and social networking sites, and did not feel under threat. We conclude that while risks of victimisation are present when youth use Internet applications, educating youth on how to reduce risky online communication that attracts predatory behaviour and harassment may curtail cyberbullying episodes. Research indicates that educating youth in media literacy skills and e-safety is a more effective approach than limiting access to technology.
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