Cyberbullying targeted by educators

    Educators in Philadelphia are discussing the impact of cyberbullying, and how to stop it. A conference in Philadelphia today is helping train teachers and school administrators to deal with the problem.

    Educators in Philadelphia are discussing the impact of cyberbullying, and how to stop it. A conference in Philadelphia today is helping train teachers and school administrators to deal with the problem.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090423tmcyber.mp3]

    Cyberbullying is using technology to intimidate. It’s a practice that is becoming commonplace among young people. Tina Meier’s daughter Megan took her life three years ago at age 13 when she became the target of cyberbullying. She says emotional scars from cyberbullying don’t necessarily come to the surface.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    Meier: Children need to understand that they need to be held responsible for their actions.

    About 100 teachers and administrators are discovering the techniques and effects of cyberbullying. Randy Boyett of the Anti-Defamation League is an expert on the issue. She says technology makes bullying easy.

    Boyett: Nasty posts on social network sites like Myspace or Facebook, they will set up websites specifically to damage reputations.

    The practice isn’t always criminal, but the conference is helping educators identify and prevent cyberbullying.

    More information:
    Dr. Dan Gottlieb discussed what cyberbullying is, it’s affects and how to deal with it on a recent episode of WHYY-FM’s Voices in the Family.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal