Cyberbullying (Speech: 22/11/07)

Kevin's speech to the Childnet 2nd National Cyberbullying Conference at the Emirates Stadium

 

I’m delighted to be here at the second National Cyberbullying Conference. A busy diary meant that I was unable to attend the first National Conference in person, but perhaps appropriately I was able to appear virtually via a pre-recorded message. Nevertheless I am very pleased to be here with you today to talk to you in person about this important issue. I want to thank Childnet International for organising this conference. Childnet have been close partners as we have developed our bullying guidance, and are continuing to support us through the work they are currently doing, including the work to develop support packs for school staff. I am very grateful for the significant contribution that they, and all our partners make, in tackling bullying in all its forms.  It is an exciting time in Government. More than ever before, we are focusing on the broader needs of children and families – their health, wellbeing, and happiness – to make sure that every child is given the best chance in life to succeed.
Our renewed sense of energy and focus towards those goals is reflected in the new Public Service Agreement targets to improve children and young people’s safety, wellbeing, and educational attainment. Bullying is one of the four indicators underpinning the child safety PSA target.  Every child has the right to a good education. And every child has the right to feel safe and secure as they learn. That is not just the concern of parents, teachers, and government, but of young people themselves.  Last week, we published an evidence report ‘Children and Young People Today’ – the outcome of our national consultation which will form the basis of the Children’s Plan – on how we might develop and improve children’s services over the next 10 years.   We talked to professionals, teachers, and children themselves. And we found that, although on the whole children are enjoying their childhood, are healthy and motivated, and are making the most of the opportunities available to them, they remain worried about bullying. And cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content online is a concern for many parents too. People are right to be concerned. Bullying is an old problem that comes in many guises. But it is evolving. And as most people now have a mobile phone and an internet connection, cyberbullies have a direct and convenient link into people’s homes and their lives.  And they are surrounded by anonymity and accomplices. Knowingly or not, more people are participating in cyberbullying just by viewing offensive content, forwarding links, and joining in online discussions. It’s not just young people who are the subject of this new phenomenon, but teachers too, and it’s affecting their motivation, job satisfaction, and the way they teach. But we’ve also got to be realistic about the nature of the threat people face, what they really need to be worried about, and what they do to protect themselves.  The internet is a fantastic resource, offering quicker and easier communication, a world of information, and speedy access to useful services. People should be able to use it without the fear and threat of unknown online bullies.  In government we are taking this issue very seriously. That is why we recently published a complete package of guidance which deals both with general issues of bullying – helping schools to develop effective anti-bullying strategies – and advice on some of the more targeted forms of bullying, like cyberbullying. Through the Cyberbullying Taskforce we have brought together industry, education professionals, children’s charities and law enforcement agencies to take forward a programme of work to tackle cyberbullying.   The  cyberbullying guidance, which I have referred to above, provides schools with advice on safe and responsible use of the internet; how to prevent cyberbullying happening in the first place; and what action to take to have images or text taken down from sites. The online campaign ‘Laugh at it and you’re part of it’  aims to make young people more aware of their behaviour when they’re viewing content online or sending messages, making them realise that just viewing, forwarding, or laughing at offensive content implicates them in cyberbullying.  Over 100,000 young people have already logged onto our website and the online campaign and I hope that they will continue to use it, and that many more will benefit. All of the guidance and resources have to be used if they are to have any impact. Giving information to people is extremely important, so that they can protect themselves, their families and their classrooms better. But people need to take that information away and use it.  I have asked the Anti-Bullying Alliance and National Strategies to work with Local Authorities and schools to ensure the guidance is being embedded effectively and we will be closely monitoring how it is used.   But it is also down to teachers, parents, and pupils themselves to think about how our advice can be tailored to best help in their particular home or school.  It is very clear that the problem of cyberbullying needs to be tackled, by everybody, from all sides. Firstly, we need to use effectively the powers already in place – such as the power to confiscate mobile phones and regulate pupils’ conduct beyond the schools gate – to give teachers the advice and support they need to deal with cyberbullying, and also to educate parents and pupils so that it doesn’t occur in the first place.  What schools have lacked up until now – and what our guidance provides – is practical advice on ways in which they can protect staff and pupils from this specific form of bullying.   Nominating one teacher to coordinate bullying strategy across the school, ensuring that cyberbullying is incorporated into existing anti-bullying policies, and regularly evaluating and updating systems to ensure that they are working, are just a few important steps schools can take to control cyberbullies. Schools can ensure that parents and pupils know how to report cyberbullying – both within the school, and with service providers directly.  Every effort must be made to prevent the problem before it starts. But where it does rear its ugly head, it must be dealt with at the earliest possible juncture.  The ramifications of cyberbullying must be clear: young people being bullied must not suffer in silence; and bullies must be held to account. Secondly, we need to teach young people to use technology safely and responsibly, to consider the feelings of others, and treat them with respect.  Although the majority of young people do behave responsibly, the internet makes it easier to become involved in bullying without even realising that it is bullying. Things may seem less harmful when they are posted online rather than said to someone’s face. Of course the truth is that they’re not, and in some cases they’re even more frightening and harmful. Through citizenship lessons, and through our social and emotional aspects of learning programme, we are giving young people the tools they need to deal with conflict, recognise others’ needs, and fulfil their own responsibilities when using technology. We need to make sure that teaching is relevant to the problems young people are facing today. As the means of communications develop, so must the messages we send to pupils. The film which Childnet has produced will be of real practical help to teachers to address this issue with confidence in the classroom.  There is much that parents – and pupils themselves – can do too.  We’re not talking about overbearing, time consuming safety measures. We’re talking about simple things we can all do to look out for our own welfare. Much of this is common sense.

Our parents tell us constantly ‘don’t talk to strangers’. Yet on the internet we do just that. It may seem safe because people can’t see or physically harm us online. But the simple fact is you must exercise the utmost care and you certainly shouldn’t give out personal details. I like the simple maxim “treat your password like your toothbrush – don’t let anyone else use it”. It’s a simple rule, it makes real sense, and its an easy tip to pass on. We’re also helping pupils to take responsibility for their own safety, and to help each other to prevent bullying in all its forms, including cyberbullying. Last week Ed Balls announced £3 million of funding for peer mentoring pilots, to help children and young people support each other if they are being bullied and, importantly, to prevent bullying in the first place. That scheme includes cyber-mentoring, where young people provide advice and support to each other online. I think that’s a great way of turning things around and using the technology to fight back against cyberbullies.  Thirdly, the technology industry and service providers must play their part in tackling cyberbullying. With some of the most popular websites getting millions of hits a day, it is clear that policing the streets of cyber world isn’t easy, and scrutinising every piece of content is an impossible task.  But a real moral obligation rests with service providers to make their services as safe as possible – particularly when catering to children and young people.  I’m delighted by the support we’ve had from some of the key players in industry so far, through the cyberbullying taskforce, by contributing to the guidance, and in other ways. On Monday Google made an announcement for their new Beatbullying channel on YouTube – a channel where young people can get help and advice, and where people can upload their own anti-bullying videos in an effort to be the world’s biggest anti-bullying drive. A bold aim, and a hugely positive initiative which I welcome enormously. I’m also grateful to MySpace, Yahoo, MSN and Bebo for the free advertising space they have provided for our online bullying campaign, and to Pizco for setting up their own cyberbullying microsite.   I’m also grateful to Vodafone and 02 for their financial contributions to the resource pack we are producing for school staff. It’s very encouraging that these key players in the industry have recognised the important part they can play to try to prevent cyberbullying, and I urge other providers to follow in their example. But it is only by each of us recognising our capacity to make a difference that we will stamp out bullying: Government must get the right information out, and exercise its powers to help people protect themselves; parents and teachers must help young people understand the effects of their behaviour, show them how to use the internet responsibly, and keep bullying out of their classrooms and homes; and young people need to take responsibility for themselves and keep themselves safe. Compared to other forms of bullying, cyberbullying is relatively new . Lets nip it in the bud now, so that children, young people and families can experience the technological revolution, in an enjoyable, creative and safe environment.  Thank you.