The online world is a great space to share ideas, play games with friends, chat and message. But sometimes people can be unkind in what they do, say or share. All bullying can hurt feelings, whether it's online or face to face. And it's important we deal with it. Speaking to a trusted adult, always standing up for others and choosing kindness in everything you say and do.
Imagine you're at the beach building a sandcastle. You've spent a lot of time on it, carefully shaping the towers, digging the moat, adding all the little details that make it special. You feel proud of what you've created. Now think about how you feel if someone came along and knocked over your sandcastle. All the time and effort you spent building it would be ruined in just a few seconds. It would hurt, right? All that work destroyed by one mean action.
Online bullying can be just like that. People spend a lot of time and effort going into the person they want to be, building their confidence. But one mean comment or hurtful message can knock them down. It can make someone feel bad even if you can't see it. It's important to that what you say and do online can affect people just as much as what you do offline. So instead of knocking someone down with a comment, build them up by being kind and ive.
I'm almost done with this group project. Just one last bit for me to do. There…
Done is so slow. Why did we even that mental group called? You were terrible at this time. Just let someone else do it.
Wow, that's not nice. Should I say something? What did they start picking on me? If I stand up for them? If I don't say anything, how is done? Going to know I'm a friends growing up.
Come on, let's be nicer to down all in this together. And he's trying his best. Let's work as a team.
I'll watch. You're not much better. You'll wind down ruining this project.
You. Now, miss can see this. Hopefully she'll teach something. I'll speak to her tomorrow and go tell dad too.
Listen up people, this is important. Online bullying can be mean messages, hurtful comments or teasing. It's harmful. What's funny is one person might be upsetting to someone else. If you or someone you know is being bullied online, talk to a trusted adult or use tools like reporting or blocking your words can help or hurt others. ing friends and standing up against bullying can make a big difference.
You've got it. Can we go to the beach now? I'd like to make a real sandcastle.
- Emma-Louise Amanshia introduces the topic of online bullying and what this could look like, as well as giving some ideas of what to do if you encounter it.
- The video uses the analogy of a sandcastle that somebody has spent a long time building, only for it to be destroyed in a few seconds. This represents how one mean comment can knock somebody down.
- A short dramatisation features a young person who sees and receives mean comments in a chat about a school group project, and then decides to report them to the teacher.
- Emma-Louise offers final top tips and advice.
Video: 3min 35sec
Learning objectives
- Bullying isn’t just physical: Learn to recognize online bullying, which can be mean messages, hurtful comments, or teasing online. Understand that this behaviour is harmful. What’s funny to one person might be upsetting to someone else. Think about the possible impact your words could have on someone. I can describe how what one person perceives as playful joking and teasing (including ‘banter’) might be experienced by others as bullying.
- Get help from a trusted adult: Know that it’s never the fault of the person being bullied. If you or someone you know is being bullied online, it’s important to talk to a trusted adult or use tools like reporting or blocking.
- Be kind online: Understand the importance of being kind online. Just as in real life, your words can help or hurt others. ing friends and standing up against bullying can make a big difference.
Glossary
- Online bullying: being unkind to somebody else online.
- Reporting: telling a trusted adult or an online safety team about something that has made you feel upset, worried or uncomfortable.
- Blocking: an online tool that stops another person from sending messages to you
Topic introductions and starters
Before the video:
- What might online bullying look like?
- How might someone feel if they are experiencing online bullying?
- How can you someone if they are being bullied online?
- Why is it important to think about what you comment, message and post online?
After the video:
- What work was the character doing at their computer?
- What was unkind about the messages from Chloe, George and Lily?
- Why was the character worried about ing Dan?
- How did the character show their for Dan?
- What did the character do when they also received mean comments?
Activities
- Write some kind comments and words that would be nice for somebody else to receive. Learners could present this in a heart shape.
- Create a short play about an incident of online bullying, showing how the characters resolve the situation.
- Create a top tips poster, advising other young people how to others online and what to do if somebody is being unkind.
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