engleski

Internet bullying among schoolchildren

Background: Internet bullying is use of internet to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. Cyber-bullying instances have been increasing over the last several years. An anonymous attacker could instantly disperse fabricated photos, lies and gossip throughout a large social network and cyber victims may feel more isolated, dehumanized, or helpless than in traditional forms of bullying. Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to point out importance of education of children and parents about internet bullying. Results: In school year 2010/2011, school pedagogues, school doctors and informatics experts organized program of education about preventative measures against internet bullying. At the beginning of program, parents answered anonymous questionnaire about children’s internet use and internet bullying. In this paper we presented analysis of answers in accidental sample of 111 parents of children in 7th and 8th grade of primary school. Parents reported that 97% children use internet and 71% of parents controlled and monitored web sites that children usually visit. Children’s use of Social Networking Websites was reported by 86% of parents, mostly Facebook 77%. Children’s user name and password knew 53% of parents and 43% of parents confirmed that they were “friends” with their children on Facebook or other Social Networking Websites. That their children were bullied by internet knew 13% parents, 22% didn’t know and 65% parents answered that their children weren’t victims of internet bullying. About 7% of parents reported that gossip and lies about their children were spread by internet. Parents mostly try to solve child’s internet bullying problem by clarification and advise, talk and advise to delete or block the bullies and personal communication and facing with bullies or their parents to request an explanation and stop bullying. Conclusion Results suggest that school medicine service and school should continuously provide intensive monitoring and education of children and parents how to use electronic media for communication, and not as a source of violence.

internet bullying; školska djeca; školska medicina

nije evidentirano