Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

What is Cyberbullying?

• How can you tell the difference between bullying and other things that might hurt your feelings but aren’t actually bullying? 

Building Empathy

•  What are some emotions a person might feel if someone online (or at school) repeatedly made fun of their clothes or body or made other insulting comments?

Positive Reinforcement

• One expert in the video explained that showing confidence can discourage bullies. What are 

Knowing Where to Turn

• If you ever experience cyberbullying, who are some adults you would feel comfortable talking to?

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Performing CBR

• The video explained the CBR method—Copy, Block, Report. Why are each of these steps important when dealing with cyberbullying?

Bystander Responsibility

• What are some ways you could help a friend who’s being cyberbullied, even if you’re not directly involved? 

Is It Cyberbullying or Something Else? 

• Can you name some examples of things that might hurt someone’s feelings even though no one meant to “bully” them?  

Why It Matters

• What are the dangers, emotional or otherwise,  of letting a cyberbullying pattern continue? 

High School Students (dialogue starters):

A Prevalent Problem

• How big of a problem would you guess cyberbullying is at our school or in your other peer groups? 

Preventing Cyberbullying

• What are some proactive steps students can take online to make it less likely they’ll become victims of cyberbullying?

Supporting a Friend

• What are some signs of emotional distress that might indicate to you that a classmate is experiencing cyberbullying (or other forms of cruelty)? 

Building a Considerate Culture

• How can we as a school promote positive interactions online and offline to build a culture where bullying is not tolerated? 

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.