Cyber bullying an issue for sport
![3D"Girl](3D"http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/302658/varietie=)
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Issue: Volume 30 Number=20 4
Cyber bullying is becoming a significant threat to the safety and = wellbeing=20 of a whole generation of young people. The United States and the United = Kingdom=20 have already been addressing the issue for many years, but it is seen as = a=20 relatively new and emerging phenomenon in Australia.
Young members of generation Y (often referred to as the = =E2=80=98always on=20 generation=E2=80=99 or =E2=80=98net generation=E2=80=99) are the first = to have grown up with a=20 completely digital world. For these =E2=80=98digital = natives=E2=80=99, technology is not=20 learned, it is intuitive and, for many of them, being connected is as = important=20 as food, water and air. As a result, it is this group that are most = likely to be=20 exposed to negative uses of technology, examples of which are email = harassment,=20 stalking and =E2=80=98sexting=E2=80=99 (sending of explicit images and = text, usually by mobile=20 phone).
What is cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying involves harassment, insults and humiliation via = technology=20 such as email, mobile phones, social networking sites, instant messaging = programs, chat rooms and websites. It most often occurs between people = known to=20 each other and can be particularly hurtful. Unlike traditional school = bullying,=20 which is usually confined to school, cyber bullying has no such = boundaries. In=20 the past, once a victim of bullying was at home, they were inaccessible, = but by=20 virtue of new technology a bully now has practically unlimited access to = their=20 victim: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The invasiveness of the = technology=20 deprives children of their privacy and this alone has a significant=20 psychological impact.
While research on cyber bullying in Australia is scant, we know from = overseas=20 research and anecdotal experience that females are represented in = slightly=20 greater numbers as both offender and victim. This follows from the fact = that it=20 is usually females who engage in verbal bullying and males in physical = bullying.=20 As females are more likely to be involved in name calling and = psychological=20 bullying at school then the move to technology is an obvious = outcome.
Perceived anonymity created by the internet=E2=80=99s impersonal = interface encourages=20 bravado in many young people, and the fact that they may not be able to = see=20 their victim=E2=80=99s reaction reduces their awareness that what they = are doing is=20 causing real harm. Very few young people who engage in online bullying = and=20 harassment are aware that they may be breaking the law and leaving = themselves=20 open to prosecution, if a report was made to the police.
Reports of cyber bullying in Australia are increasing and, as young = people=E2=80=99s=20 technological abilities grow ahead of their maturity, the wider = community must=20 take responsibility to encourage acceptable use of technology. Failure = to do so=20 will result in more and more cases of cyber bullying and, ultimately, a=20 generation of young people with a skewed sense of reality.
How does it affect sport?
Clubs and other sporting organisations and are not immune from these = problems=20 and they need to think clearly about how they can manage the possible=20 consequences. Organisations need to consider how they can monitor = communication=20 between members, such as coaches and athletes. How would an organisation = react=20 if, for example, an athlete used a social networking site like Facebook = to post=20 photos which have undesirable and possibly damaging consequences for the = organisation? Other key considerations include issues of privacy, = physical and=20 psychological safety, and the preservation of a club=E2=80=99s = reputation and a sport=E2=80=99s=20 image.
It is crucial for organisations to be aware of all issues relating to = the=20 misuse of technology and ensure that they send a very clear message to = their=20 members and the local community that such behaviour will not be = tolerated. Club=20 requirements regarding technology use can be included in codes of = behaviour,=20 member protection or related policies, guidelines and duty = statements.
The reporting process for notification of the misuse of technology = must be=20 clear, concise and simple. Research has shown that young people will = often not=20 report online abuse for the fear of getting in trouble and losing their = ability=20 to remain connected (for example, by being banned from using the = internet by=20 parents). Clubs must undertake to treat complaints promptly, seriously,=20 sympathetically and confidentially, and to investigate complaints=20 impartially.
Each sporting organisation should also provide its members with = advice on how=20 to be safe online. Taking a proactive approach =E2=80=94 rather than = reacting after an=20 event =E2=80=94 is always preferable. Don=E2=80=99t think that young = internet users are immune=20 from inappropriate or even criminal online behaviour. Cyberspace is not = divided=20 into age-appropriate areas, it=E2=80=99s one big world, and the methods = that cyber=20 bullies can use to hurt others are only limited only by their = imaginations and=20 their access to technology.
The internet is not a private space: it is a public place, and needs =
to be=20
acknowledged as such. Cyber safety is an issue that affects the whole =
community,=20
and as such, solutions must come from a wide range of groups and =
organisations.=20
The =E2=80=98not my problem=E2=80=99 approach, which leaves others to =
deal with trouble, is=20
unhelpful and alienating. Working cohesively and collaboratively with =
and within=20
the wider community will result in a far better outcome.