Bullies strike online (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Bullies strike online

2:38pm Thursday 9th November 2006

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Research carried out in Preston has identified a new trend in online bullying. 'Cyberbullies' are targeting victims by setting up hate sites, according to experts at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Dr Denise Carter, the university's research fellow in the field, said new figures reveal almost a third of teenagers had been affected by the problem, either through their computers or their mobile phones.

She said: "We have received more and more evidence over the last few months that hate sites, with the aim of undermining individuals, are being set up.

"In some cases they use doctored pictures and online polls about their targets."

Dr Carter, who advises a central government taskforce on the problem, has warned parents of the dangers that come with children accessing the latest technology.

She said: "Many parents buy mobile phones for their children as a safety measure, however there can be dangers attached. At one time, the home was a safe and secure haven, but bullies can now target their victims at any time through texts and computer messages.

"As many as 92 per cent of 9 to 19-year-olds have access to the internet at school and around a third of these say that they have friends they had met online.

"The same number admit receiving bullying messages through email, instant messages or chat rooms, often from people they know."

Dr Carter will share her findings with representatives from all over the country at a high profile conference in Preston this week.

UCLan's Cyberspace Research Unit will host the event Wednesday November 15.

Dr Carter will chair a cyberbullying workshop and explain the latest initiatives to control the problem to guests including the local education authority, the Anti-Bullying Alliance, Children's Safeguarding Board and Childnet International.

She said: "The department here in Preston is well placed to play a major part in addressing this particularly nasty and cowardly form of bullying.

"Many parents and teachers are not fully aware of how widespread the issue has become, but the statistics make for alarming reading."

The Cyberspace Research Unit which is renowned as a national centre of excellence on the subject, is planning a new university course in child safety on the internet in February, which will be a 12 week distance-learning course for teachers and parents.

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