Claudio Cerullo explains cyber bullying

June 9, 2010 - PRLog -- The cyber world has allowed for children to be vulnerable to bullying in the safe haven of their home.  This new ability to socially network in the cyber world is rapidly expanding the harmful affects children suffer from being bullied.  Adults have to play an active role in protecting their children from this rising trend.  

Cyber-bullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and posting false statements as fact aimed at humiliation.

Kids report being mean to each other online beginning as young as 2nd grade. According to research, boys initiate mean online activity earlier than girls do. However, by middle school, girls are more likely to engage in cyber bullying than boys do. Whether the bully is male or female, their purpose is to intentionally embarrass others, harass, intimidate, or make threats online to one another. This bullying occurs via email, text messaging, posts to blogs, and Web sites.

Today’s youth are developing socially much differently than previous generations.  Although communication has been an important factor in all generations, today’s youth are tech savvy and have been socialized to communicate via technology. "If we want to know what is going on with our kids in the cyber world, then we must get into the cyber world.  We have to extend tools to our children that are relevant and make it easy for them to report cyberbullying and other cyber threats," said Claudio Cerullo.

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About Dr. Claudio Cerullo
Dr. Claudio V. Cerullo possesses more than seventeen-years experience in education. With six years teaching in Social Science Education. Dr. Claudio Cerullo earned his Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Social Science Education where he was elected President of the Student Government and Education Association. Dr. Cerullo earned his Master's Degree in Professional Elementary and Secondary Education with his concentration in Educational Administration, earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Administration and has attended educational leadership training in Diversity/Multi-Cultural Education through Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.