History Forum / General / British History / March 2007

Schoolgirls bullied into stripping online

Wed Mar 28, 2007

By Natalie Armstrong

TORONTO (Reuters) - Bullies are no longer content to taunt their victims in
the playground but are turning to cyberspace, according to Canadian
researchers.

They are using e-mail, text messaging and social networking sites in new
forms of victimization.

Cyber bullies are even forcing their girlfriends to undress in front of
webcams and then sharing the images with others online.

"They're pressuring each other. This is particularly (true) for girls to
send pictures of themselves with their tops off," said Professor Faye
Mishna, of the University of Toronto, who has been researching the cyber
abuse of children.

"Girls might send it to their boyfriend and she is pressured to do it
thinking he's just going to see it. So she gives in and the next thing you
know it's all over (the place)."

SLEEZEBALL BOYFRIENDS. -- DSH

The images are even more likely to be passed on if the couple breaks up,
said Mishna who headed a research team that held focus groups with 47
students in grades 5-12.

Preliminary results from the research show so-called computer geeks are
becoming the new schoolyard bullies. Final results of the study, which will
be completed in June, are expected to be published in the autumn.

"Traditional bullying is a power differential," Mishna said in an interview.

"The power before could have been age, size, smartness, popularity, ability.
Now it's the perceived anonymous nature. We'd like to find out how anonymous
it really is. The power now is you can put it all over (the place)."

That's why I have no respect for ANONYMOUS POSTERS. -- DSH

The focus groups also revealed victims refuse to tell an adult about the
abuse because they fear they will be punished in order to be protected.

"They're scared that their parents will take away their computer
privileges," Mishna said.

Students also thought it was pointless to tell parents about cyber bullies
because they could not identify the culprits.

"Friends are giving their passwords out to somebody who they think is a good
friend," said Mishna. "Then they use it to bully somebody else."

NAÏVE IDIOTS! -- DSH

Traditional bullying is still continuing on school grounds, but technology
has enabled the abuse to continue at home.

"This hasn't replaced it, unfortunately," Mishna said.