NEWS / RESEARCH: Sexting and cyber-bullying in South Africa - A new study by UNICEF South Africa explores how SA youth deal with dangers online

A new first-of-it-kind study by UNICEF South Africa explores how the local youth deal with dangers online, as society moves further into an easily-accessible, ever-connected environment of communication.

The report was compiled after holding close to 180 in-depth focus groups at 93 schools across South Africa, covering topics including online violence, abuse, sexting, online risks and real-world consequences and dangers.

The study showed that one in five secondary-school learners have experienced some form of cyber-bullying or other violence online.

Remarkably, however, the report found “substantial” evidence that the majority of young people are aware of the risks they face online, which has allowed them to develop protective measures of their own.

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STUDIES: 90 Percent Of Children’s Programming Shows Social Bullying

Over 90% of children's top 50 television shows display social bullying, according to new research.

In an age where social bullying is a growing hot topic, Nicole Martins, Indiana University, and Barbara J. Wilson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, published research in the Journal of Communication looking into whether children are exposed to these behaviors through television programs.

full article: redOrbit (http://s.tt/1ozi3)

STUDIES / BULLYING: Cyberbullying Not as Common as Regular Bullying [STUDY]

Cyberbullying has become a critical issue in recent years thanks to the proliferation of social media, but according to new data, traditional face-to-face bullying is still far more common among today’s youth.

New research presented at the American Psychological Association’s 120th Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla. found that cyberbullying — which takes place online or via a mobile phone — isn’t growing as rapidly as once thought.

“Claims by the media and researchers that cyberbullying has increased dramatically and is now the big school bullying problem are largely exaggerated,” said psychologist Dan Olweus of the University of Bergen, Norway,in a statement. “There is very little scientific support to show that cyberbullying has increased over the past five to six years, and this form of bullying is actually a less frequent phenomenon.”

full article at mashable.com

Please also watch this video from Macedonia!

NEWS / CYBER BULLYING: Senate looks to youth for insights into cyberbullying (CANADA)

OTTAWA — The Senate human rights committee is set Monday to launch a study on cyberbullying in Canada, and is looking to hear from the experts on the subject: students.

The quick turnaround time for the study — it is scheduled to be completed by June, the end of the school year — is a secondary concern for senators who are reaching out to young people online for the first time.

The committee is turning to social media to get in touch with students nationwide and have them deliver the ideas and suggestions the committee needs to craft recommendations to the government on how to crack down and help those affected by cyberbullying.

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NEWS / PROJECTS / CAMPAIGNS: Nickelodeon launches campaign to battle digital bullying

NEW YORK — The popular children's television network Nickelodeon began an on-air public service campaign Monday featuring some of its stars offering advice on what young people should do when confronted with hostile texts, emails or Facebook posts.

The advice offered in one ad featuring Ashley Argota of "True Jackson, VP" and Gage Golightly of "The Troop": Sign off the computer; don't reply to a hostile messenger; block bullies from access; make a copy of the message to show to an adult you trust.

"It's not tattle-telling," Golightly said. "It's standing up for yourself."

The issue has received national attention after the suicides of teenagers who were victims of cyberbullying.

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Cartoons, TV and pollies 'create school bullies'

by Nance Haxton for PM

Updated Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:51pm AEDT

The research found children learn socially acceptable behaviour from TV and movies, then model that in the playground. (ABC)

Audio: Children learning how to bully from the media (PM)

New research suggests that children's media exposure is a big factor in whether or not they become bullies at school.

Harvard's Centre on Media and Child Health has found that children learn socially acceptable behaviour from television and movies and then model that in the playground.

The researchers found that even the behaviour of politicians and heroes in storylines could be used by children as justification for standover tactics.

full article

NEWS: Beatbullying advert deemed too disturbing for TV (UK)

Beatbullying advert deemed too disturbing for TV

Beatbullying's latest advertising campaign depicting a young victim sewing her mouth shut has been banned by TV advertising regulators.

Clearcast, the organisation that grants clearance to TV advertising, has refused permission to air the charity's advert.

The graphic imagery of a girl sewing her mouth closed, to symbolise the suffering in silence that many bullying victims endure, was deemed to be too disturbing for TV audiences.

full article and video link here

Block Bullying Online

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