Sexting, Texting, Cyberbullying and Keeping Youth Safe Online

Abstract

Problem statement:The issue of cyberbullying is one that has raised the concerns of parents, educators and law enforcement. Today children have cell phones with internet access as young as age eleven and some have cell phones as young as age eight making them all vulnerable to cyberbullying. Approach: The aim of this study was to explore differences between third, fourth and fifth graders perceptions of cyberbullying as a function of having a cell phone, by gender and grade. Data was collected from 835 third, fourth and fifth graders in Massachusetts. Results: An analysis of the data revealed that 35 % of third, fourth and fifth graders had their own cell phone, 11.4% responded that they had received mean or hurtful email or text messages about them and 45.6% of the students responded that they had been bullied in school. Differences by grade and gender were examined. Results indicate that although 27% of respondents worry about being bullied online, only 12% had someone talk to them about bullying online. Students in third grade were more in agreement that they worry about being bullied online and more strongly reported being afraid of being bullied by other students at school. Female respondents were more in agreement with the prevalence of cyberbullying or receiving hurtful emails and text messages about them and others. Conclusion: The findings suggest that students are provided with technology at young ages and receive very little guidance to protect them from cyberbullying.

Ecological Factors of Being Bullied Among Adolescents: a Classification and Regression Tree Approach

“…In light of these changes among adolescents, peer factors and an increasing use of technology play significant roles in bullying today. Several studies indicate that the more adolescents use mobile phones, the more susceptible they are to cyberbullying (Cantone et al 2015; D’Antona et al 2010; National Children’s Home [NCH] 2005; Raskauskas and Stoltz 2007; Smith et al 2008). Slonje and Smith (2008) asserted that cyberbullying is much dangerous than most traditional bullying because of the following three reasons: (1) the difficulty of getting away from it; (2) the breadth of potential audience; and (3) the invisibility of those doing the bullying.…”

Lack of Parental Rules for Cell Phone Use among Low Income Mexican Descendent Adolescents

“…Moreover, parents may be providing few, if any, rules for use and may not be engaging in sufficient parental monitoring of their children's cell phone and texting use. Given the recent attention regarding the use of text messages for cyberbullying and sexting (D'Antona, et al, 2010;Rivers, & Noret, 2010) the current study provides preliminary evidence for the need to raise awareness among parents about potential risks regarding adolescent cell phone use and to target parental monitoring practices.…”

“…National studies (D'Antona, Kevorkian, & Russom, 2010;Lenhart, 2012; have begun to investigate cell phone and texting use among adolescents; however, very little is known about cell phone use among ethnic minority adolescents and monitoring of adolescents' cell phone use by parents. Our study clearly indicates that cell phone and texting behaviors are common even among low income Latino adolescents.…”

“…It is critical to better understand cell phone and texting usage among low income ethnic minority adolescent given the prevalence of use in the general population and potential vulnerabilities youth face related to cyberbullying and sexting (D'Antona, et al, 2010;Rivers, & Noret, 2010). Recently much attention has been paid to the negative influence that sexting and cyber bullying can have on adolescent health (D'Antonia, Kevorkian, & Russom, 2010;Li, 2006), which may reflect a greater need for parents to be more engaged and to monitor more closely adolescent cell phone use, particularly given the higher rate of communication with romantic partners.…”

“…Recently much attention has been paid to the negative influence that sexting and cyber bullying can have on adolescent health (D'Antonia, Kevorkian, & Russom, 2010;Li, 2006), which may reflect a greater need for parents to be more engaged and to monitor more closely adolescent cell phone use, particularly given the higher rate of communication with romantic partners.…”