Objectives:

To understand different types of online bullying and the connection between online and real-life bullying;
To identify possible actions against online bullying;
To show how important it is to report online and real-life bullying.

Materials:

Before you begin, make four different signs: 1. Nothing 2. React 3. Report 4. Other. Hang all four of the signs in different corners of the room.

Process:

Begin the activity by asking the participants what they know about bullying in general, the ways of spreading and types of bullying, and why people bully each other overall.

Then show the participants different signs in the corners of the room and tell them that you would read about different situations and the participants should think what would they do and then stand in appropriate corners of the room. After each of the stories, when the participants pick their favourite corner, ask several of them to support their choice, what would be their reaction, whom would they address, or if they wouldn’t take any action.

Stories:

1. You received several offensive e-mails and messages from an address or number that you don’t known. Some of the messages were threatening. It looks like the sender knows you. What would you do?

2. Several pupils from your school edited some of your photos and uploaded them online with obscene comments. You think you know, who did it. What would you do?

3. A boy from another country came to study in your class. Your friends make fun of the newcomer and share racist comments online. Your friends keep asking to share their comments with others. What would you do?

4. Some of your classmates started sharing information about you that is incorrect on the social media. Upon seeing those posts, other pupils started avoiding you. Even your friends started to think that the information shared could be true. What would you do?

5. Your teacher said that several pupils were suffering from terrible bullying and one of them was even attacked on the way home. He is asking everyone to share what they know about the incident. You think that you know, who’s the bully, but you’re afraid to tell anything, because you also received offensive messages, telling you not to tell anything. What would you do?

6. You notice a child, crying in the playground. You know that other children bully this girl and call her names due to hear learning difficulties. Your friends bully her most and often make fun of the girl, when you’re together. What would you do?

Summary:

• What stories are the most difficult to react to? Why?
• Do you think that all stories are related to bullying alone?
• Have you ever encountered online bullying in person (as an object of bullying, a bully or a witness)?
• Are there any and what connections can you draw between online and real-life bullying? What are the differences?
• Will your reaction to bullying be different in the future? How and why?
• What could each of us do against online bullying?
• Who should join the battle against online bullying? In your opinion, what reactions should come from the media, police, parents, teachers and others?