ABUSE_MAGAZINE_ID_ ABUSE Magazine Iowa | Page 8

CYBERBULLYING Cyberbullying STAY SAFE ONLINE 100 S. 18th Ave. - Marshalltown, IA (641) 752-3395 Photo source: www.glogster.com “Never Text and Drive – We can wait for your business” 641-351-4712 “We proudly support preventative education for our youth” 602 Iowa W. - Marshalltown, IA “We are proud to be a drug free workplace and proudly support our youth in their efforts to remain drug free!” 2305 1st Ave. S. - Fort Dodge, IA 515-576-7551 FREE DELIVERY Call Ahead for Pickup Window Service NO MINMUMS “Kids don’t let drugs and alcohol STEEL your future. We are proud to be a drug free workplace” 15 N 1st St. - Fort Dodge, IA 515-573-8108 ITALIAN FOOD...FAST “We are proud to be a drug free workplace” 2908 5th Avenue South Ft. Dodge, IA 8 (515) 576-3098 If you’re like most teenagers, you spend a lot of time on a cell phone or instant messenger chatting with friends and uploading photos, videos, and music to websites. You may have online friends whom you’ve never met in person, with whom you play games and exchange messages. Teens’ lives exist in a variety of places such as school hallways, part-time jobs, and friends’ houses. Now many teens also have lives on the Internet. And bullying has followed teens online. Online bullying, called cyberbullying, happens when teens use the Internet, cell phones, or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. Cyberbullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens. Whether you’ve been a victim of cyberbullying, know someone who has been cyberbullied, or have even cyberbullied yourself, there are steps you and your friends can take to stop cyberbullying and stay cyber-safe. Stop! Block! Tell! | Iowa Fall/Winter 2013-2014 | abusemagazine.org How Are Teens Cyberbullied? Being a victim of cyberbullying can be a common and painful experience. Some youth who cyberbully • Pretend they are other people online to trick others • Spread lies and rumors about victims • Trick people into revealing personal information • Send or forward mean text messages • Post pictures of victims without their consent When teens were asked why they think others cyberbully, 81 percent said that cyberbullies think it’s funny. Other teens believe that youth who cyberbully • Don’t think it’s a big deal • Don’t think about the consequences • Are encouraged by friends • Think everybody cyberbullies • Think they won’t get caught Source: www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying