Here are some of the main findings of recent studies by various American organizations in the field of cyberspace research. First of all, with regard to teachers:

• Less than 25% of educators feel comfortable teaching students about Internet safety.

• Of 1,000 teens, only 48.1% said that a teacher had talked to them about computer safety within the last 30 days.

• Only 14.9% said that a teacher had talked to them about online safety regularly within the last month.

Secondly, with regard to parents:

• Less than 50% of the students surveyed said that a parent had talked with them about Internet safety in the last 30 days.

• Only 22% reported that a parent had talked with them regularly within the last month.

• 43.4% said that their parents never go on the computer with them.

• Only 5.5% reported that a parent went online with them ‘often’ or ‘very often’.

Dr. Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center and a leading authority in the field of cyberspace research, commented on the above findings: ‘…it is quite apparent that a very small proportion of youth consciences are being piqued about the tremendous importance of participating in cyberspace with wisdom, discretion, and civility.’ Although disappointed, Dr. Hinduja says she is more determined than ever to combat cyber bullying. Even though data of this kind – as far as I know – is not available with regard to the role German teachers and parents play in terms of  Internet safety, I can imagine that the situation here is similar, i.e. that German schools and parents aren’t doing enough to educate young people to use cyberspace sensibly. In view of the fact that cyber bullying is on the rise, I feel that it is urgent that teachers be aware of this issue and try to influence their students to combat cyber bullying wherever they encounter it.

Here are 2 examples of Cyber Bullying:

The Web: The Bully’s new Playground

David Knight Cyber Bullying Victim

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