Speaking Outline

Speaking Outline

Page 356

Preventing Cyberbullying

UNA CHUA

Tufts University

General Purpose: To persuade

Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to understand and confront the growing problem of electronic harassment.

Thesis Statement: I’m here today to confront the growing problem of electronic harassment and to persuade you to fight cyberbullying.

Introduction

  1. Attention Getter: Relate tragic stories of cyberbullying.
    1. 9/22/10: Rutgers U freshman Tyler Clementi (TC) updates Facebook (FB) “Jumping off gw [George Washington] Bridge sorry.” He does.
    2. TC’s roommate and female friend accused of invasion of privacy. Used webcam to transmit private images. (Foderaro, NYT, Sept. 29, 2010)
    3. 15-year-old high school student from MA, Phoebe Prince (PP), commits suicide after text/social-networking torment. (Goldman, ABC News, March 29, 2010)
  2. Here to confront electronic harassment and fight cyberbullying (CB)
  3. Introduce self
  4. Will discuss forms, scope, and causes of CB; conditions allowing it; staying safe from and responding to CB

Body

  1. Forms of CB
    1. “Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” (CB Research Center)
    2. Posting/sending harassing messages via Web sites, blogs, texts
    3. Posting embarrassing photos w/o permission
    4. Recording/videotaping someone and sharing w/o permission
    5. Creating fake Web sites/profiles to humiliate
    6. CB involves stalking, threats, harassment, impersonation, humiliation, trickery, exclusion. (Feinberg & Robey, Education Digest)

Transition: CB = recent problem with a substantial body of research.

  1. Scope of CB
    1. CB Research Center’s 2010 study
      1. 20% of 4,400 11–18-year-old students experienced CB.
      2. 10% initiated CB.
    2. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (2010) study
      1. 49.5% of 2,000 teens experienced CB.
      2. 33.7% initiated CB.

Transition: Many lives are touched by CB. But why? What are its causes?

  1. Causes of CB
    1. Joking around
      1. 81% of youths said CB is funny. (National Crime Prevention Council)
      2. FB postings and texts are meant as a joke.
    2. Bully insecurity
      1. Insecurity and aggressiveness = CB behavior. (Hinduja & Patchin, CB Research Center)
      2. CB makes bullies feel powerful.

Transition: What conditions allow CB to happen?

  1. Conditions allowing CB
    1. Lack of supervision
      1. Kids know more about texting and social networking than adults do. (McGraw, congressional testimony, June 24, 2010)
      2. Difficult to track kids’ Internet and cell phone activities
      3. 80% of youths don’t have rules for home Internet use. (National Crime Prevention Council)
    2. Anonymity
      1. Psychologist/pediatrician Leonard Sax: Girls on the Edge: The Four Factors Driving the New Crisis for Girls [Read extended quote from transparency.]
      2. Makes CB difficult to catch/stop

Transition: Are we doomed to suffer? No. Take steps to protect yourself.

  1. Steps for staying safe from CB
    1. Safeguard personal information (school IT office).
      1. Never leave laptop unattended.
      2. Keep passwords and SSN private.
      3. Use privacy settings.
      4. Post photos with caution.
    2. Be a voice against CB.
      1. Don’t Stand By, Stand Up! (formed in honor of TC on FB): bullies don’t succeed without help.
      2. Don’t pass on CB messages and inform the senders that their messages are offensive/stupid. (National Crime Prevention Council)

Transition: You may still become a CB victim.

  1. [Show poster board.] Responding to CB: use “stop, block, tell.” (Parry Aftab, July 28, 2009, Frontline interview)
    1. Stop: take 5, cool down, walk, breathe deeply.
    2. Block: prevent communication—remove bully from social-networking lists and block cell #.
    3. Tell: campus security, counselor, etc. Children tell parent, teacher, principal.

Transition/Internal Summary: We’ve seen CB’s negative impact, analyzed causes/conditions, discussed countering CB (privacy, speak out, “stop, block, tell”).

Conclusion

  1. CB is not someone else’s problem.
  2. Call to action: make a personal commitment to combat CB.
    1. Refuse to be silent.
    2. Never pass along CB messages.
    3. Voice your concerns at the campus and community levels.
  3. Don’t forget TC, PP, and other CB victims. Your loved one could be next.

LearningCurve

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