Overcoming Cyberbullying in Childhood: Children as Digital Leaders

Fahriye Altinay

, Menil Celebi

, Cengiz Hakan Aydın

, Gökmen Dağlı

and Zehra Altınay

Faculty of Education, Educational Sciences Institute, Societal Research and Development Center,

Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus

Faculty of Business & Economics, Societal Research and Development Center, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus

Faculty of Open and Distance Education, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey

Faculty of Education, University of Kyrenia, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus

Keywords: Cyberbulling, Digital Leaders, Online Counseling, Parental Education, Tolerance Education.

Abstract: Cyberbulling in childhood may damage learning and development of children in their life. Being aware of

cyberbulling and developing societal strategies in protecting cyberbulling are very crucial to set secure

learning and development context for the children. It is significant to create atmosphere on leadership of

own their learning in digital arena through trainning. This study aims to reflect the experiences and

perceptions of experts in order to set strategies for the future as a result of national project on cyberbulling

and children as digital leaders in school culture and even in society. The study has qualitative nature which

case study approach was employed. The research process is conducted upon workshop with 17 volunteer

participants from the experts who are the representatives from various associations. The self-reports are

employed as data collection and thematic analysis was done. The findings revealed that trainings on being

digital leaders, e-transformation, creating online learning platforms for counseling, game-based learning and

film making as public spot in media need to be basic strategies in order to overcome cyberbulling for

children as digital leaders in societal level. Further to this, tolerance education and conflict resolution

courses and programs need to be included to the curricula.

1 INTRODUCTION

The ongoing advancement and innovative changes

in technology provide a more comfortable and

happier life for people. However, these changes

indicate that “crime concept” will take a different

form in the future and this, already, has become a

serious concern for all countries (Akcil, et al., 2016).

In the e-transformation system which resulted from

the rapid development of computing and internet is

shaping norms and ethic values at a maximum level

from education to trade, from state and private

sectors, and from entertainment to shopping. The

advantages of this fast development have caused

unbalanced changes, threats and dangers in social

and technological aspects. “Crime concept”, which

used to shape according to the values of certain

periods in the past, has already begun to shape itself

in a different way parallel to today’s advanced

technology. Information Technology (IT) has pulled

down the borders among countries and has become

an international issue through internet and computer

webs. In this respect, fighting IT crimes is possible

through worldwide collaboration. Otherwise,

success in this conflict resolution seems almost

impossible (Campbell, 2005). In a broader sense, IT

crimes, individual or international illegal use of

technology or organizational computing systems

have harmful effects on other worldwide systems.

To commit an IT crime, one needs to use

technology, computers, credit- cards, telephones,

post-machines or an electronic tool (Francine, et al.,

2008; Kowalski, et al., 2014).

The widespread distribution of illegal CDs has

reached absolutely high rates. The value of illegal

CDs confiscated in operations is the evidence of this

truth. It is a fact that people prefer such products

because of their low costs. It should not be ignored

that any unauthorized sellers or buyers are equally

committing a crime. On the one hand, such illegal

products (CDs) are far from being safe and any

problems faced while using them cannot be

complained about and on the other, they harm

computers and technological appliances and such

problems cannot be solved. IT crimes emerging

from IT concept are becoming widely known and

720

Altinay, F., Celebi, M., Aydin, C., Da

glı, G. and Altinay, Z.

Overcoming Cyberbullying in Childhood: Children as Digital Leaders.

DOI: 10.5220/0006386907200724

In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Computer Supported Education (CSEDU 2017) - Volume 1, pages 720-724

ISBN: 978-989-758-239-4

common day by day. Such crimes have become an

international issue rather than a national one. In

order to overcome this problem, maximum care and

collaborative measures should be taken on

international contracts on “IT Crimes”.

Together with the hardship experienced during

growth and other problems originating from social

environment, a child’s negative experience related to

social norms is inevitable, which a combination of

such factors leads a child to commit crimes (Li,

2007). It has been noted that family, friends, school

environment, and free time have significant role in a

child’s illegal behavior. It is widely known that

changes in developing countries in their traditional

structure are affecting children mostly in a negative

way and it is emphasized that firstly the state and

then the family have great responsibility in taking

measures to put an end to this issue. It is also a need

that all inconveniences should be eradicated and the

family be protected by law. Families should be

educated through seminars. It is also suggested that

potential areas for crime commitment should be

defined and centers should be provided for children

to spend their free time, in which developed

collaboration shopping. The advantages of this fast

development have caused unbalanced changes,

threats and dangers in social and technological

aspects. “Crime concept”, which used to shape

according to the values of certain periods in the past,

has already begun to shape itself in a different way

parallel to today’s advanced technology. Information

Technology (IT) has pulled down the borders among

countries and has become an international issue

through internet and computer webs. In this respect,

fighting IT crimes is possible through worldwide

collaboration. Otherwise, success in this conflict

resolution seems almost between families and school

is of crucial importance

(Vandebosh, Vam Cleemput,

K., 2008).

Another important factor noted in the studies

carried out is the process in which a child seeks

his/her identity. At this stage, the social environment

and relationships with friends are the specifying

factors and if a child cannot develop positive

relationships, he/she is bound to commit crimes. In

communities where technology and e-transformation

exist, schools are supposed to be the safe and

strategic approach (Aksal, 2015; Gazi, 2016). In this

respect, in order to fight possible crimes in

informatics, the child, the users of technology and

electronic tools should be sensitive and family and

community members should be educated through

seminars and conferences. In addition, necessary

arrangements and detailed crime concepts are

needed in criminal law (Mishna, et al., 2009).

This study aims at specifying future strategies.

While doing so, experts’ views from a workshop on

“Children as Digital Leaders for overcoming cyber-

bullying” were referred to. In the content of the

research, communal development and future

strategies were detected under the following

questions;

1. How do experts perceive cyber-bullying side

effects in childhood?

2. What could be the strategies to grow up

children as digital leaders?

3. What are the strategies to set plans for the

future?

2 METHODOLOGY

This research is part of the project on cyberbulling

and children as digital leaders. The project is the

social responsibility project in order to increase the

awareness of cyberbulling and ability on how to be

digital leaders for the ownership of learning and

professional development. The research has

qualitative nature.

2.1 Research Design and Approach

This research project stands on qualitative research

patterns which experiences and perceptions of field

experts are examined to set policy and strategies on

overcoming cyberbulling for children as digital

leaders. Upon collaboration and action learning

process among volunteer participants, interpretations

and thoughts put emphasis on consensus for policy

development in societal level. With an interpretive

framework, patterns are examined in relation to

experiences (Creswell, 2003).

The case study approach was also employed to

examine the particular issue in relation this inductive

process. In this respect, workshop was organized to

discuss, set situation and develop strategies upon

cyberbulling in childhood as part of the social

responsibility project.

2.2 Participants and Data Collection

Process

17 volunteer experts from various associations and

related ministries become part of the workshop and

the project. The three seminars including theoretical

framework on cyberbulling; sociological and

Overcoming Cyberbullying in Childhood: Children as Digital Leaders

721

educational damages of cyberbulling; secure

schools, tolerance education were delivered to group

of experts and focus group was done to discuss issue

in democratic context. Self-reports are used to

investigate the experiences and perceptions of the

experts in order to further set policy and strategies.

The qualitative data were coded and analysed upon

thematic analysis (Denzin, Lincoln, 2003; Miles,

Huberman, 1994).

3 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

At the end of this study, in the light of experts’

views from the workshop under the project related to

“Overcoming cyber-bullying In Childhood; Children

as Digital Leaders”, future strategies as well as

social development were set.

A. A behavior harming individuals or a group via

IT has been explained as “cyber-bullying”. Ten

experts have noted the following answers to a

question to do with experiencing “cyber-

bullying” in individuals’ life.

-I had such a culture-related experience in a

social web before, which harmed my personal

rights

-It is widely known in every part of the society

-I have never experienced

-I witnessed expressions by his playmates in my

son’s website

-I have not experienced it, but my friend’s 13

year-old daughter did. She had long-lasting

psychological problems. One of her friends

copied her picture and opened an imaginary

account where there were writings which did not

belong to the girl

-Not for children, but for women

-Yes, we had problems at school. Children

blackmailed each other by sending naked

pictures. The sender was from a problem family.

Mostly children from such families are caught in

such traps

-I haven’t experience, but witnessed

inappropriate pictures shared or used for

blackmail on the internet

When the findings are considered, it is clear that

mostly adults and especially women are the targets

in cyber-bullying. It is hoped that all what has been

experienced may lead to effective steps for put an

end to such misbehaviors.

B. 17 experts have responded the questions in

detail related to preventing “cyber-bullying”

and protecting children from committing IT

crimes as follows:

-Lack of safe communication and“cyber-bulling”

regulations”

-Lack of communal awareness and family

education”

-Unconscious use of technology. Lack of sites

approved by families for their children”

-Environmental factors. Children should be

assured that “cyber-bullying” does not help at all

-Children should be banned from excess use of

technology

-Children can be banned or punished

-As long as there isn’t social or face to face

communication, such problems will never come

to an end. Avoiding IT crimes is totally bound to

environmental education. That is, they should be

educated by parents, teachers, and the

community. Environmental modeling misleads

children

-There are many unhappy children around. This

is mainly because; children are not led by the

family to have responsibilities

-The education system does not take forming

individual behaviors seriously, but stick to

memorization. It has an imposing role

-There aren’t any limitations for the children

-Negative modeling by parents and the

environment

-The education given to a child encouraged to

commit a crime or the level of culture of the

environment are all supporting factors for

“cyber-bullying”. A well prepared program for

the children will prevent them from “cyber-

bullying” or being “cyber-bullied

-The use of IT positively and for good reasons

should be taught firstly by parents and then by

educational institutions

-The basic reason of the problem lies in a child’s

criminal age and lack of sanctions for the

determiner

- Internet should be banned, the target individual

for “cyber-bullying” should be specified in

advance

-Lack of education for young girls and women

and male threat for immorality put them in target

position for “cyber-bullying”.

-Families should be well informed in this respect

-Families should have responsibilities for their

children’s uncontrolled use of the internet.

School children should be strictly controlled by

the staff

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722

-Use of technology should be limited. Families

and teachers should be informed on this issue so

that they can educate their children”

-Since identification is not specified when

“cyber-bullying”, it is easier to be merciless and

bold. One likes to have supporters and become

the leader of that event. There isn’t any face to-

face communication. Therefore, legal measures

should be taken.

C. 16 participants responded as follows to the

question “What can be done to deal with

childhood cyber-bullying and what urgent

measures can be taken?”

-Parent-school” legal and communication

institutions should carry out what is required and

the media should be guided well”

-Attempts for family awareness should be started

-Improper sites for children should be blocked

-Lack of meaningful activities to keep children

away from technological tools. Providing more

social activities will stop children from sparing

time o “cyber-bullying

-Keeping children away from communication

tools and guiding to spare more time to playing

games

-The internet should be used for beneficial

activities, imaginary media should stick to rules,

there should be “0” tolerance, informing

individuals, and specifying legal measures in

case of failing to obey the rules and regulations

-Conferences, seminars, and educational

mobilization should be organized to make people

aware of effective use of the media and teach

them what to use the internet for

-Materials addressing the child’s age and level of

education should be provided

-People should be informed

-Ignorance on the subject-matter should be

minimized

-People disobeying rules should be penalized.

There should be security measures on the

internet

-Sanctions are needed. There should be

limitations on the internet

-A research should be done to identify the

situation and decide on the measures to be taken

-Families should know everything about their

child’s friends. Children should not be allowed to

use mobile phones excessively and should be

provided with social activities that will keep

them away from the internet

-Education should be given on how to use

technology, families should always observe their

children and in case of any misbehavior, they

should ask for help from an expert

-Legal sanctions are necessary

The findings noted that, in order to prevent

“cyber-bullying” and raise awareness, children

should be led to experience autonomous learning. It

is a crucial need to educate children to use the

correct technology and the internet. Raising children

willing to learn and having the ability to be leaders

in technology will add to protect the structure of

education and the community. It is required that the

findings are taken into account by the institutions

involved and new social strategies are. We start life

as children and become adults experiencing different

relationships all way through. Childhood has its own

psycho-social and physical changes. Children

experiencing this ambiguity and lacking necessary

sources face some problems. Such children who

cannot distinguish between good and bad are bound

to face outdoor dangers, which are mostly witnessed

in developing cities and city centers.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Lack of family affection and care as well as attention

and emotional misuse are reasons that push the child

to exhibit illegal behaviors that turn into limiting

factors in life. In order to provide safe environments

for children, all the involved should be made aware

of “cyber-bullying” and measures to prevent such

misbehaviors should be taken.

Meanwhile, educational activities should be

doubled by the family and school. The most

important of all is that steps should be taken to direct

children, as digital leaders, to use technology

properly in learning and social environments (Aksal,

2015).

Within a frame of preventing cyberbulling, it is

very significant to diffuse tolerance and conflict

resolution skills within the school culture for

enriching communication between teachers, learners

and the families in order to support security and

learning of the children.

Besides the preventions on those cyberbulling

in childhood, there is intensified need to empower

curriculum and school activities as regards the game

based learning and films through technology

enhanced instruction in order to diffuse the

awareness and internalization of tolerance and

conflict resolution strategies for the welfare of the

society.

Overcoming Cyberbullying in Childhood: Children as Digital Leaders

723

Cyberbulling in childhood causes challenge and

side effects on learning and development of children

in their life. Being aware of cyberbulling and

developing societal strategies for cyberbulling are

very crucial to set secure schools and the future.

Creating atmosphere on leadership of own learning

in digital arena could be supported with seminars

and training (Gazi, 2016).

Trainings on being digital leaders, e-

transformation, creating online learning platforms

for counselling, game-based learning and film

making as public spot in media need to be basic

strategies in order to overcome cyberbulling for

children as digital leaders in societal level.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank to participants who deliver

their experiences and thoughts upon their expertise.

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