SKOKIE POLICE DEPARTMENT CYBERBULLYING

Sergeant Denise Franklin Support Services/Crime Prevention/Community Relations Unit Skokie Police Department

v This presentation is provided for educational use only. It is not intended to replace the judgement of health professionals. WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING ?

It is using a computer, cell phone or another electronic device to harass, intimidate or hurt someone. Some examples are: • Posting negative comments or spreading rumors about someone online. • Sending threatening or mean messages. • Posting embarrassing photos on websites, or sending them by e-mail or cell phone. • Excluding someone from an online group or game. Definitions of bullying and cyberbullying in Illinois law

• “Bullying” includes “cyber-bullying” and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

(1) placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;

(2) causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health; (3) substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or

(4) substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

“Bullying”, as defined in this subsection (b), may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive. • “Cyber-bullying” means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photo optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. “Cyber-bullying” includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. “Cyber-bullying” also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 stopbullying.gov CYBERBULLYING HURTS Like other forms of bullying, it can have serious effects. These include: • Problems in school – Victims of cyberbullying may have trouble with schoolwork. They may also miss school more often. • Emotional problems – Being bullied can lead to depression, drug use, suicide and other problems. • Physical problems – The stress of being bullied can cause stomachaches, headaches and other symptoms. KNOW THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Interactive Gaming - Deliberately blocking, ignoring or excluding an individual from multi-player games • E-mail/Instant messaging – E-mail/instant messages can be sent to harass victims or spread rumors about them. • Websites – Young people may: Ø Create their own personal web pages or online polls. Ø Use social networking sites or chat rooms. Ø Have public online diaries called blogs. These could be used to post information or images to hurt someone else. • Text messaging – Threatening or unkind text messages and embarrassing images can be sent from one cell phone, or wireless device to another. Social Media Apps and Sites Commonly Used by Children and Teens Digital media and apps allow children to communicate and express their creativity, connect with peers, and share their feelings. However, they can be an avenue through which cyberbullying occurs. There are many types of apps and sites available for free that give users the ability to search for people and share or post information about them anonymously. Some current popular social media venues and apps include: • Askfm: A social networking site that allows users to ask other people questions, often anonymously.

• Calculator%: A “vault” or secret app that appears harmless, but hides photos, videos, files, and browser history.

• Chatroulette: There are over 20 different chat roulette sites that allow users to instantly connect via webcam and video chat. Sites typically pair the users randomly and instantly. • Discord: A voice-over-IP (VOIP) app that allows users to video chat with others, private message, and join, create, or participate in public and private chat rooms. This app is often used by players to chat with each other while playing videogames.

• Facebook and Facebook Live: The most commonly used social media site that is accessible on many different media platforms. • Instagram: A photo and video sharing and networking site that connects users through other social networking sites (e.g., Facebook).

• Kik: Messaging app that allows users of all ages to contact others anonymously. • Line: A messaging app that allows users to make free phone calls, leave voice messages, and text. Users can delete texts or chats from recipient’s phone using a timer. • LiveMe: A tool to broadcast live-streaming videos and watch other users’ videos. Social Media Apps and Sites Commonly Used by Children and Teens Continued:

• Omegle: An app that pairs users with strangers in anonymous one-on-one chat sessions.

• Reddit: A site that stores social news, rates and evaluates web content, and discussion threads.

• Sarahah: An anonymous messaging app that allows users to send anonymous messages to people they may know.

• Snapchat: A photo messaging app that allows for sharing pictures and short videos that are intended to be erased shortly after delivery.

• Telegram: Messaging app that allows users to share photos, videos, and files; make calls, and delete texts or chats from recipient’s phone using a timer.

• TikTok: An app that allows users to create and share their own videos where they lip-synch, sing, dance, or just talk.

• Tumblr: A social networking site that allows posting of short blogs and media.

• Twitter: A microblogging site that allows users to send, read, and reply to “tweets” or short messages.

• Vine: An app that allows the posting of short 6-second looping videos.

• WeChat: An app that allows user to chat with friends, and to search for people nearby and around the globe.

• WhatsApp: A private messaging app that allows users to text, send photos, videos, and location information to their contacts.

• Whisper: An anonymous social media site that allows users to post and share photo and video messages.

• YouTube: A video sharing platform that allows users to post and share videos.

• MeetMe: A dating app that connects users to others based on geographic proximity. IS MY CHILD BEING CYBERBULLIED?

Victims may show signs that include: • Appearing sad or depressed. • Acting very moody. • Having trouble sleeping. • Spending more or less time on the computer/cell phone. • Losing interest in school or letting grades drop. TALK WITH YOUR CHILD early and often. Make sure your child knows it is OK to tell you about feeling worried or unsafe. IF YOU LEARN YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN CYBERBULLIED Take steps to stop it

• Tell your child not to reply to any bullying messages. • Save all messages from the person who bullies. • If possible, block the person’s e-mail address, screen name and phone number from your child’s computer and cell phone. • Report the problem to local law enforcement, your Internet and/or cell phone service provider and child’s school. IS MY CHILD CYBERBULLYING?

Signs may include: • Showing a lack of respect and/or empathy for others. • Spending a lot of time on their computer and/or cell phone. • Hiding what they are doing (such as quickly changing the computer screen or ending a phone call when you approach). SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT cyberbullying

For example, have rules to never: • Make threats or say mean things. • Post or send photos of others without permission. • Share passwords or pretend to be someone else. Be clear about what happens if your child breaks a rule. Encourage your child to treat others with respect/empathy at school and online.

Ø TAKE ACTION if you think your child may be bullying. Work with School Officials and/or counselors to address the problem. SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT cyberbullying continued Teach your Child to have a safe online experience. Each child owns the below three areas of their lives, and protecting these are a life long responsibility: • NAME – This will be on everything they do for the rest of their lives. It is on every test at school, college application and job application. • IDENTITY – This is their online persona. How they portray themselves in their social networking sites. What they say, how they treat others and the photos they post. All of these create an online identity that is also being captured and saved by online search engines. • REPUTATION – This is what your online persona creates for others to determine their opinion of you as an individual. Others may be making decisions based upon an online persona. TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT PROBLEMS

Keep track of your child’s computer and cell phone use: • Keep computers in a common area of your home. • Know your child’s user names and passwords. • Teach your child to be cautious with people they meet online. Tell them to check with you before meeting any of them in person. • View the websites your child visits. Check websites often to see if their content is OK for your child. • Ask your Internet service provider about ways to track or block online activities. • Teach your child to never share personal information online (including name, address, age, phone number and school). Ø These steps can help keep your child safe from identity theft and sexual predators, too. Illinois LAW In Illinois, every public school district and each non-sectarian private elementary and secondary school must adopt and enforce an anti-bullying policy. The policy must prohibit bullying at school, including bullying through use of computers or other electronic communication devices. These policies must also be reviewed and re-evaluated every two (2) years and be updated to reflect any necessary and appropriate revisions. The policy must be filed with the State Board of Education after being updated. (105 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/27-23.7.)

• Do Illinois anti-bullying laws and regulations involve parents in efforts to address bullying behavior?

Yes. Illinois school district bullying prevention policies must be based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders including students and parents or guardians. Illinois school district bullying prevention policies must also include procedures for promptly informing parents or guardians of all students involved in an alleged incident of bullying.

• Do Illinois anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?

Yes. Illinois school district bullying prevention policies must include interventions that can be taken to address bullying. School districts must discuss the availability of interventions with parents or guardians of all students involved in alleged incidents of bullying. Interventions may include, but are not limited to, school social worker services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and community-based services. Reporting cyberbullying

• Notify the school - If your child experienced cyberbullying, the chances are high that the negative fallout has spilled over into their school experience, even if the cyberbullying did not occur while your child or their abuser(s) were on school grounds. • Notify local law enforcement - When bullying or other problematic behaviors are reported or suspected within a school, community, or online setting, law enforcement personnel can work effectively with others to efficiently and thoroughly investigate the incident(s). • Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC). The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the Internet. You can find the ICAC Task Force for your jurisdiction by going to www.icactaskforce.org and clicking on the “contacts” tab and then “ICAC Task Force contacts.” • Notify the CyberTipline - The CyberTipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will search for any similarities in the incident to be sure that all previously reported case information is included when sending to the ICAC Task Force of your jurisdiction. LEARN MORE ONLINE

Visit: • www.stopbullying.gov Ø StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response. • www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0028-cyberbullying Ø The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. • www.ncpc.org/resources/cyberbullying/ Ø The National Crime Prevention Council’s mission is to be the nation’s leader in helping people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. We need to keep working together to eradicate bullying.

Contact Information:

Sergeant Denise Franklin

(847)982-5923 Resources: • Cyberbullying – Channing Bete Co. pamphlet [email protected] • stopbullying.gov • kidsmatter2us.org