Cyberbullying is old-fashioned bullying expedited by technology. It may originate outside of school but crosses back into the school environment because texting, blogging, email and Twitter are as automatic as breathing for most middle and high school age kids.

Cyberbullying often has components of racism and intolerance, according to Melissa Medvin, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Arizona.    

The ADL recently developed an anti-bias curriculum that includes tips for preventing cyberbullying. The program “enlightens kids about the impact of teasing and cyberbullying,” Medvin says. “Honestly, they don’t realize that defacing a picture—altering someone’s face to make it funny—[and] jokes like that can have underlying meaning and real impact. Things don’t get erased and have a life way beyond the ‘send’ button.”

Two hundred peer trainers from 10 Valley high schools recently went through the program, which shows students, teachers, administrators and families how to understand and help prevent cyberbullying. Consequences of harassing or bullying people through technology are spelled out along with rules for staying safe online. For example, children need to restrict what personal information they provide online and be careful about who they “friend” or add as a contact.

“Kids figure the more friends, the better—who wouldn’t? But they have to be careful,” Medvin says. “And don’t say anything online you wouldn’t say to [someone’s] face.”

The ADL was formed in 1913 to combat anti-Semitism and bigotry. adl.org.

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