Digital Smarts - Who is Responsible For Taking on Cyberbullying?

While the article Who's responsible for tackling cyber bullying? appears on the web site of an Australian newspaper, the Brisbane Times, the message is a universal one. Cyber bullying is an ongoing problem and it is up to all of us – government, school and home – to work together to find solutions. The article points out that promoting  positive digital citizenship to prevent bullying will always be more effective than trying to control it once it has begun. Technology will always find a way around control mechanisms put in place. As an example, the article discusses Snapchat, a popular photo messaging application, and how even the “safeguards,” such as being notified that a screen shot of the message was taken, can be circumvented. Wikipedia even informs users that running the Snapchat application in an ‘‘emulator’’ will bypass all restrictions. While it is important for safeguards and controls to be in place, teaching children to be digitally responsible is equally as important. Everyone has a role in keeping children safe online.