NCJ Number
207235
Date Published
2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the characteristics of online bullying and hate promotion, followed by suggestions for schools and parents/caregivers in preventing it and countering its effects on youth.
Abstract
Because the Internet is an accessible and inexpensive medium for reaching a mass audience, it is increasingly being used to promote hate toward various groups. Web sites that encourage stereotypical negative attitudes and behaviors toward targeted groups constitute a form of online bullying. In the year 2000, The Simon Wiesenthal Center estimated that just over 3,000 Web sites were promoting racism and terrorist agendas. Although students retain rights to free speech in their online activity off-campus, school-district Internet services are similar to a school publication over which the school maintains editorial control. All speech, even private messages, sent online via school Internet services are subject to monitoring and regulation by school districts. Wider efforts by the school to prevent online bullying and hate messages should include efforts to address hate-motivated behavior and attitudes in the school community. This involves identifying the causes of the behavior and attitudes and providing instruction and school experiences that promote respect for diversity among students and emphasize the harm to others of bullying and hate-motivated behaviors. This paper offers specific suggestions for relevant research and prevention strategies. The authors advise that educators and parents/caregivers should identify hate-group strategies, work toward defusing their impact on youth, and instruct adolescents in ethical assessments of the motives and impact of online hate speech. 7 references