The Changing Face of Cyberbullying in Schools
As more students go online and use digital learning tools, cyberbullying is becoming a bigger issue. The rise of new technologies, like artificial intelligence, is making this problem even more complex.
Cyberbullying often involves “harassment on social media, spreading rumors, or sending hurtful messages,” explains Jennifer Duer, who leads safety and wellness initiatives at Lightspeed Systems.
New tech is changing the game. “For instance, I recently saw a student use AI to create a harmful song about another student. Research shows that 1 in 10 students know someone who has used AI to create inappropriate pictures of classmates,” she adds.
In this evolving landscape, teachers and school leaders need to take action.
How Schools Can Combat Cyberbullying
A multi-layered strategy is essential for tackling cyberbullying effectively.
“You must have ways to identify issues. Then, you need a system to assess the severity and decide what to do next,” says Clements, a former director of counseling services for Neosho School District in Missouri.
Many schools have only partial plans. They might know how to respond, but lack adequate methods to identify issues, she notes.
Bullies often hide their actions. They might send a mean message, show it to the victim, and then delete it immediately. Sometimes, they use digital tools to post hurtful comments in Google Docs and erase them after.
“You can only address what you know about,” Clements emphasizes.
This is where technology can help.
Using Technology to Fight Cyberbullying
Schools have access to tech tools that can help monitor and identify bullying behavior.
In Neosho, Clements used GoGuardian Beacon, which provided insights into situations that might otherwise go unnoticed. “It runs in the background of a student’s school device and monitors activity at the browser level,” she explains. “Beacon can track whatever they do online.”
