4 minute read
CYBERSAFETY
CYBERBULLYING
TECHNOLOGY IS HERE TO STAY
In 1994 Susan McLean did not own a mobile phone and her employer, the Victorian Police, were not connected to the Internet mainstream. Susan was handed her first case of cyberbullying, and at that time could not have foreseen the frenzy of activity that would follow in the years ahead. This was just the tip of the iceberg in a new world of evolving technology.
Susan McLean’s first cyberbullying case was “horrible”, involving a 13-year-old girl and other students.
“For the first time, it made me start thinking technology could be misused,’’ said Susan, realising she had to upskill herself in this area. “I thought it (technology) was all this magical stuff, but these girls worked out a way to misuse it.
“It was just another day at the office and I was doing something I knew nothing about. I twigged it would grow with problematic online use.
“The only problem was you didn’t know where it was going because you didn’t know what was coming. “Early adopters of social technology were teenagers and then middle teenagers, then younger children and now children in Prep have devices. In those days, could you have foreseen a 4-year-old would have an iPad?” Susan spoke with RGS students, from Year 5 to Year 12, during Term 2 to give them an honest insight, telling the students that while cyberbullying was part of their lives, cyberbullying is ugly and damaging – both in the present and the impact of a social media footprint that never goes away. Students were informed about the three “Rs”: Respect, Responsibility and Reputation. Susan recommends a series of questions to ask yourself before you touch an online device: • Is it showing respect to myself, my body and others? • Is it a responsible use of technology, not can
I do it? You can do it if you press a button but is this what I should be doing? • How is what I’m about to do going to impact my digital reputation? • Pause and think first. Then align everything you do with those three Rs and you can’t go wrong. “You can’t break a rule, you can’t break a law, you can’t go somewhere you shouldn’t be, you can’t be mean, you can’t be nasty, you can’t do anything if you are being respectful and responsible,’’ Susan said. Susan wants students to be mindful of opportunities that may present themselves, whether that be in the near future or years ahead.
TAKE OWNERSHIP
1. RESPECT
Be respectful of yourself and others.
2. RESPONSIBILITY
Ensure it is a responsible use of technology.
3. REPUTATION
Think about how something will impact your digital reputation.
Susan McLean is fighting the cyberbullying battle and making people aware of their responsibilities. “You don’t know what they (opportunities) are because they haven’t presented themselves yet. It might be an opportunity to represent the school, opportunity to go on exchange, opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Opportunities mean people will look you up online and decide yes please or no thank you,’’ Susan said. “To the best of your ability, be ready to grab that opportunity when it presents itself.” Susan also wants parents to be “upskilled” when they hand their children social media platforms. “You are a parent in the 21st century and this century is full of tech,’’ Susan said. Susan herself is a parent of three children, six years apart in age from oldest to youngest, and has seen first-hand the fast-paced progress of technology, noticing her youngest child is almost of a different generation of technology. Susan said this was despite all three children having the same house, same parents, same school, same opportunities. She said that is how quickly technology is changing. “It’s (technology) not going anywhere. It’s been here for a long time. Ten years ago parents were ‘I don’t get it’ or they ‘didn’t understand it’. Today no. There is absolutely no excuse for not knowing in your mind about technology,’’ Susan said. “You (as parents) have to get on top of this and you can not ignore your responsibilities. The internet is an adult world and if you are going to allow your child to be there you have to be there with them and you have to put in place rules and boundaries. If you do not, your child will be harmed. That’s what will happen. “I want parents to be the parent, not your child’s best friend, set rules and boundaries for technology use in the house. “Know their passwords. It’s not invading their privacy. It’s parenting. Also, please, make sure devices with internet connections and cameras are never, I repeat never, in bedrooms or bathrooms,’’ Susan said. Susan wants students and parents to know this is “real”.
SUSAN RETURNS TO RGS ON 27 JULY
RGS families are invited to attend an information session with Susan McLean at the RGS Auditorium on the evening of Tuesday, 27 July. RGS will advise of more details closer to the event.
