Sarah's Story
The “Reel” Story: Cyberbullying
- In Sarah’s case, what began as a case of bullying in school became full-time harassment from people she didn’t even know. If you are being bullied, either in person or through the Internet, don’t be afraid to come forward and tell an adult you trust. It is illegal for other people – even kids – to harass you, emotionally or physically.
- And if you are the person doing the bullying, you should know that bullying someone else is a crime. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a crime to communicate repeatedly with someone if your communication causes them to fear for their own safety or the safety of others. It's also a crime to publish a “defamatory libel” – writing something that is designed to insult a person or likely to injure a person's reputation by exposing him or her to hatred, contempt or ridicule.
- Some teens think that, because they’re using the Internet or cell phones to spread rumours and verbally harass someone, rather than bullying them in person, they aren’t responsible. Some will even join in bullying someone they don’t even know, “just because” other people started it. Whether or not you’ve ever personally met the person you’re bullying, it is still illegal, and dangerous. Youth have committed suicide or attacked fellow students because they have been bullied by their peers.
- Even if you aren’t harassing another teen, but know who is, you need to come forward and tell an adult. If you know someone is being harassed but do nothing to stop it, then you are also responsible for the pain that person suffers. Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent bullying from happening:
- And if you are the person doing the bullying, you should know that bullying someone else is a crime. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a crime to communicate repeatedly with someone if your communication causes them to fear for their own safety or the safety of others. It's also a crime to publish a “defamatory libel” – writing something that is designed to insult a person or likely to injure a person's reputation by exposing him or her to hatred, contempt or ridicule.
- Some teens think that, because they’re using the Internet or cell phones to spread rumours and verbally harass someone, rather than bullying them in person, they aren’t responsible. Some will even join in bullying someone they don’t even know, “just because” other people started it. Whether or not you’ve ever personally met the person you’re bullying, it is still illegal, and dangerous. Youth have committed suicide or attacked fellow students because they have been bullied by their peers.
- Even if you aren’t harassing another teen, but know who is, you need to come forward and tell an adult. If you know someone is being harassed but do nothing to stop it, then you are also responsible for the pain that person suffers. Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent bullying from happening:
• Be careful who you trust with your e-mail address, instant messaging nickname and phone number. Never share your instant messaging password, even with your friends. You don’t know who they will give it to or be able stop them from sending messages under your name.
• If you or someone you know is being bullied, tell an adult. No one has the right to abuse you, physically or emotionally, not even another kid.
• Don’t respond to bullying messages, but make sure you keep the communications as proof. You may be able to forward them to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to stop your harasser, or, if the bullying escalates, the police may want to see the messages.
• If you or someone you know is being bullied, tell an adult. No one has the right to abuse you, physically or emotionally, not even another kid.
• Don’t respond to bullying messages, but make sure you keep the communications as proof. You may be able to forward them to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to stop your harasser, or, if the bullying escalates, the police may want to see the messages.
