Bullying in schools is not new. For as long as there have been schools, there has been bullying. In the past, it was bigger boys or girls who picked on their meek, smaller-sized classmates. Today, with new Internet technologies, bullying has taken on a new dimension: cyber-bullying. A bully can create false profiles on popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, and attack his victims. Because it is broadcast to hundreds, if not thousands, in the online community, a victim's suffering is made more acute. A 2006 survey found that a quarter of 3,488 Singaporean students polled had been victimised by cyber-bullies. At the time, these bullies targeted victims through e- mail messages and forum postings.
But now, experts say, the bullying has gone 'viral' with the rising popularity of Facebook, MySpace and YouTube videos as well as multi-media messages. And it is getting more vicious.
'The new breed of bullies are narcissistic. They treat the Internet as their stage,' said an expert.
Narcissists or brats, these kids are seldom savvy enough to mask their trails. Their identities can be easily traced to their original e-mail. Schools should mete out punishment to such bullies in the good old-fashioned way - six of the best in front of the school assembly.
Victims of cyber-bullying are usually too frightened or traumatised to report such acts to their school counsellors or teachers. Their classmates or schoolmates, though, who usually notice the postings first, should be encouraged to inform their teachers.
But in the end, it is the parents who will play a big part in helping to solve the problem. The inculcation of right values in their children - for example, that bullying is a sign of weakness and not strength - is important. Parents should not, however, get paranoid about new technologies, as they are all for the good. Teach your children well.
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