Cyberbullying, Sexting, & Healthy Relationships
This Safe Environment Lesson has three components:
1. Large Group learning session
2. Small Group discussion session
3. Large Group recap
I. LARGE GROUP LEARNING
Cyberbullying
- Watch Cyberbullying Video 1
What is cyberbullying?
What is a good response to being cyberbullied? - Watch Cyberbullying Video 2
What does prosecutable mean?
What is a background check?
What is a HIB law? Law against Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying - Review WCSD bullying policy (pdf)
- Review Cyberbullying Laws in Wisconsin (pdf)
- Watch Cyberbullying Video 3
Recap: What is a good response to being cyberbullied?
Sexting and Sextortion
Sextortion as a form of cyberbullying, which begins with sexting
- Watch Sexting Video 1
What is sexting?
What are the problems and dangers of sexting?
Caution: A quick internet search for “sexting” gives a ton of “positive” twists to sexting.
This is something to be aware of; something which is harmful is advertised as good--don't fall for it!
Sexting opens a person up to sextortion—a form of cyberbullying
- Watch Sextortion Video 1
What is sextortion?
How do we prevent sextortion? Don’t sext.
Handout: Tips to Preventing Teen Sexting - Watch Sextortion Video 2
The Importance of Healthy Relationships
Parents and other trusted adults—even the clergy—have been teenagers themselves
They can relate: they have done embarrassing things themselves when they were younger
No mistake or problem--no matter how embarrassing--is insurmountable when we have people in life who we’re in
healthy relationships with: friends, family, so on
II. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
Activities regarding Cyberbullying & Sexting/Sextortion
Activity 1 for Students: Questions for Group Discussion
1. Do you know anyone who has been bullied online? Have you ever been bullied online? What effects can cyberbullying have on the victim?
2. How is cyberbullying different from other forms of bullying? Why do you think some people bully others online?
3. What is the best way to take away a bully’s power over you? What is the worst way to react to cyberbullying?
4. How does it make you feel when you see someone else being bullied? Does bullying behavior make the bully more or less popular?
5. Sextortionists leverage their victims’ fears of being embarrassed or terrified at having nude images shared with friends and family. How do you think that a victim might overcome their fears and tell another trusted person what’s going on? Have you ever had to tell someone something really embarrassing, but after you did, things got set on a good path again?
Activity 2 for Students: [Handout] Cyberbullying Handout scenarios and discussion
As a group (or in smaller groups), consider each scenario and discuss how you would’ve reacted.
The same? Differently? Why?
Activity 3 for Students: [Handout] Cyberbullying Quiz
Healthy Relationships Activities
Activity 4 for Students: Questions for Group Discussion
Also: [Handout] First read through the “Am I in a Healthy Relationship?” Handout
1. If your best friend were bossy, cruel, or aggressive toward you, you’d probably find a new best friend. But some people think it’s okay to tolerate such behavior from a partner. Why?
2. The early stages of dating abuse usually involve one partner gaining control over the other through excessive attention, jealousy, and guilt. Why is this stage often hard for a victim to recognize? How can it lead to more serious forms of physical and sexual abuse?
3. Do you think it’s easy or hard to leave an unhealthy relationship? What are some reasons why someone might stay in an unhealthy relationship?
4. If you saw a friend being abused, or abusing someone else, would you get involved? Would your gender influence your response? What about the gender of the person being abused or doing the abusing?
Activity 5 for Students: [Handout] The RESPECT Hotline
Objectives:
• Identify common patterns of teen dating abuse
• Offer advice to fictional victims of dating abuse
Scenario: As part a school community service project, you’ve volunteered to be a peer counselor for the RESPECT Hotline, a call center for teens who need help dealing with unhealthy relationships or physical and emotional abuse. Your goals are to help callers understand the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship and to direct them to additional help if necessary.
Activity 6 for Students: [Handout] Healthy Relationships Quiz
III. LARGE GROUP RECAP
1. Review answers to Cyberbullying and Healthy Relationships quizzes
2. Closing Prayer with hands placed on neighbors' shoulders