Cyber Bullying

Netiquette, or Internet etiquette, refers to good social behaviour when using the Internet. It includes respecting people’s privacy online and not doing or saying anything that may bring harm or annoyance upon other Internet users. Some common platforms where positive netiquette is emphasized include email and online chats, conversations and comments.

Cyber bullying refers to deliberate and intentional attempts to cause physical, emotional or psychological harm to others through the use of the Internet and/or other digital technologies. It can be more dangerous than physical bullying in the following ways:

1. it happens round-the-clock;
2. the victim’s humiliation is increased with the larger audience the Internet provides;
3. the effects of cyber bullying can linger and perpetuate since it is difficult to completely and permanently remove the incriminating content; Internet users could simply download and re-post the content;
4. it is difficult to identify the perpetrator as he can easily remain anonymous while online.

Some of the common platforms used by cyber bullies include:

• Online games such as MapleStory and Defense of the Ancients (DOTA; part of Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne);
• Social media networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube and blogs;
• Instant messaging services such as Windows Live Messenger (“MSN”);
• Messages, photos and/or video captured by mobile phones.

Various Forms Of Cyber Bullying

1. Online threats:

This form of cyber bullying is the most dangerous as the cyber bully threatens to harm the victim. Immediate action should be taken to ensure the safety of the victim.

2. Taunting and rumour-mongering:

This is commonly used by cyber bullies to humiliate the victim in front of the wider audience provided by the Internet. This usually causes emotional and psychological harm to the victim.

3. Impersonation

The cyber bully impersonates the victim and does things to damage the reputation of the victim in the eyes of the public. This often happens on social networking sites.

Signs of Cyber Bullying

Some cyber bullies are bullies in real life. They may have been victims of bullying themselves. They often bully others online as a form of revenge, or to feel powerful and to have some control over their victims. Others may engage in cyber bullying due to peer pressure or to be accepted as part of a group.

Your child may be a victim of cyber bullying if he or she:

1. Unexpectedly stops using the computer;
2. Is nervous or jumpy when an instant, text, or email message appears;
3. Appears uneasy about going to school or going outside in general;
4. Appears to be angry, depressed or frustrated after using the computer;
5. Avoids discussions about what he or she is doing on the computer;
6. Becomes abnormally withdrawn from friends and family members.

Tips Against Cyber Bullying

1. Educate your children on:
1. How to observe positive netiquette:
1. Be courteous and polite to others online;
2. Be responsible when sharing photos and videos of others;
3. Refrain from using full capital letters in messages, as this is online shouting;
4. Understand that spreading online rumours will hurt others;
2. How to respond if they are cyber bullied:
1. Keep any and all evidence of cyber bullying (e.g. press the PRINT SCREEN button - ‘Prt Scr’ - and paste the screenshot into a Microsoft Word document);
2. Stop all communication with the cyber bully by closing the application or window;
3. Report the bullying to parents, teachers or web moderators.

2. Take immediate action if your child is being cyber bullied by:
1. Requesting for a thorough investigation from the Internet service provider, mobile service provider, content provider or website administrator (provide evidence if available);
2. Working with school authorities if the cyber bully is suspected to be from the school;
3. Reporting the matter to the police if the cyber bullying involves criminal intimidation, the insulting of the modesty of a woman or racial slurs.

More Information

1. STOP Cyber Bullying
2. AsiaOne Special ‐ Cyber Bully
3. Preventing bullying, protecting children
4. Cyber Bullying Research Center – Resources
5. Don’t Cyber Bully
6. Cyber bullying — Anti‐social behavior online
7. Eight Ways to Deal with Cyber Bullies

Cyber Bullying

Netiquette means treating online friends with respect and politeness. If you are not careful in how you express yourself, you may hurt their feelings. Examples of positive netiquette include:

• not writing nasty comments about other online users;
• not shouting by typing instant or email messages in full capital letters.

Cyber bullying is the act of being unkind to other online users. It is an example of bad netiquette. Cyber bullying can take place:

• within online games such as MapleStory, Club Penguin etc.;
• within online social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter;
• through instant messaging services such as MSN Messenger;
• within online forums.

Importance of Netiquette

In exercising netiquette, you learn to be mindful and considerate about your friends’ feelings. And when you demonstrate such good behaviour online, you will also earn respect from your friends.

Cyber bullies, on the other hand, often hurt their victims by:

• making online threats against them;
• making fun of or spreading lies about them online;
• stealing their identities and humiliating them by posting embarrassing messages, photos or videos online.

Tips Against Cyber Bullying

1. Practise positive netiquette and good online behaviour by:
1. being courteous and polite to other online users;
2. being responsible when sharing photos or videos of others online;
3. not shouting by typing instant or email messages in full capital letters;
4. not spreading online rumours about others.

2. If you or your friends are being cyber bullied, you should:
1. stop or block all communication with the bully;
2. keep any evidence; and
3. report the bullying to your parents or teachers.

Where to seek help

Get help from your parents, teachers or school counsellors if you are being cyber‐bullied.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Cyber Safety

The accessibility of the Internet and its wide-range of online content make it easy for online predators to harm children and youths as the predators are able to identify and locate their victims easily. These predators establish contact with their victims through conversations in chat rooms, instant messaging, email as well as popular social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Often, these predators hide behind the anonymity afforded by the Internet and befriend an unsuspecting child by enticing him or her with attention, affection, empathy and sometimes even gifts. Once the trust is built, the online predators attempt to meet up face-to-face with the victims in order to exploit them for their own sexual gratification.

Cyber Safety Tips

Although the law acts to deter potential offenders, parents should educate their children and take steps to reduce the risk of them falling victim to online predators.

1. Explain to your children that:
1. Online contacts may not be who they claim to be and they may not be telling the truth;
2. They should not disclose personal information, contact details or whereabouts;
3. They should not use the web camera unless they are with a responsible adult;
4. They should close any chat sessions immediately if someone tries to persuade them to:
1. Share information or do things that make them uncomfortable;
2. meet up face-to-face;
2. Establish rules on who your children can interact with online;
3. Place your children’s computers in common areas so that their Internet activities can be monitored;
4. Establish the real identities of your children’s friends on their social media platforms (eg. Facebook, MSN) and ensure that the privacy settings of these platforms are set to the strictest possible;
5. Install parental control software to remotely monitor your children’s online interactions.

More Information

1. Online Predators and Child Safety
1. Online predators: Help minimize the risk
2. Teach kids online security basics
   
3. Age-based guidelines for kids' Internet use
   
2. A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
   
3. Online Predators
   
4. Internet Predators
   
5. Basic Internet Safety for Kids
   
6. Child and Teen Internet Safety
   

Cyber Safety

Cyber safety is about being on guard when you are online. While it is fun to make new friends online, it can also be dangerous to reveal your personal information.

Not everyone is honest. The people you meet online may not be who they seem to be. For instance, a 40 year old man could easily claim to be a 12 year old girl.

Some people use the Internet to commit crimes. They may pretend to be your friend and ask you for your personal information such as your name, home address, mobile phone number, email address and personal photos. Once they have this information, they can easily find and identify you, and cause you harm.

Cyber Safety Tips

1. You should be careful of anyone you meet through the Internet.
2. You must be aware that not everyone tells the truth online.
3. You should keep personal information such as your name, home address, mobile phone number, email address, age and date of birth to yourself.
4. You should leave the chat session as soon as possible if someone tries to persuade you to share personal information. You should also inform your parents or teachers about it immediately.
5. You should firmly say “NO” if someone tries to persuade you to meet up in person. You should also inform your parents or teachers about it immediately.

Where to seek help

Talk to your parents, teachers or school counsellors if you feel uncomfortable about any interactions with or requests made by people that you meet online.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Cyber Security

Symantec revealed in September 2010 that 70 per cent of Internet users in Singapore have fallen victim to cyber crimes. These include computer virus attacks, online credit card fraud and identity theft.

Cyber security is all about protecting your computer and online accounts against attacks by cyber criminals. These criminals seek to gain control of your computer or access to your personal information through malicious software, phishing or hacking attacks.

• Hacking
  Hacking is an attempt to gain access to your computer by guessing your passwords or exploiting vulnerabilities in your computer’s connection to the Internet. Other users may take control of your online accounts (e.g. email or game accounts) by stealing your passwords.
  
  
• Phishing
  Phishing is a method used by cyber criminals to deceive people into divulging their personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. For example, you may receive email messages that contain instructions or links directing you to fraudulent websites where you are asked to enter personal information for a seemingly valid reason - perhaps to verify or update account information. Once you do this, the information is captured and effectively stolen.
  
  
• Malicious software
  This includes Trojan horses, spyware, worms and bots that can damage or slow down your computer, making it vulnerable to virus attacks.

Cyber Security Tips

Educate your children to:

1. Use strong passwords of at least 8 characters containing a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using whole words, names, dates of birth or other personal information that can be easily found;
2. Keep passwords private;
3. Delete email messages and attachments from unknown senders;
4. Install and update anti-virus and firewall software;
5. Regularly update anti-virus and firewall software. Ensure virus scans are run regularly;
6. Update the operating system (e.g. Microsoft Windows 7) of the computer with the latest security patches.

More Information

1. What is Cyber Security?
   
2. Stay Safe Online Cyber Security Resources
      a. Stay Safe Online: Protect Your Devices
      b. Stay Safe Online: Protect Yourself
      c. Stay Safe Online: Free Security Check-Ups
   
3. Fraud Prevention
   
4. Viruses and Threats
   

Cyber Security

Cyber security is about protecting your computer and online accounts against cyber threats such as computer viruses. These viruses hide in innocent-looking attachments or files that you may receive with your email, through MSN chat messages or from pop-ups in websites that you visit.

Other forms of cyber threats include:

• Hacking -
  Other Internet users may take over your online accounts (e.g. email or game accounts) by stealing your usernames and passwords.
• Phishing -
  Cyber criminals may trick you into visiting fake websites in order to steal your personal information such as bank account numbers, online account usernames and passwords.
• Malicious software -
  This includes Trojan horses, spyware, worms and bots that can damage or slow down your computer, making it vulnerable to virus attacks.

Cyber Security Tips

1. You should use strong passwords of at least 8 characters that are a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.
2. You should keep all your passwords private
3. You should delete email messages and attachments from unknown senders.
4. You should only download and install software programmes from reliable and trustworthy sources.
5. You should turn your computers and Internet connections off when not in use.

Where to seek help

Ask your parents, teachers or school counsellors for advice if you are unsure whether your actions pose a security risk to your computer.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Copyright

Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection which gives the creator of the original work the exclusive rights to use, distribute and adapt the work that he has created. Examples of work protected by copyright include:

• literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works;
• expression of ideas and concepts in tangible forms such as in words or illustrations.

The © symbol is commonly used by the creator to claim ownership of the work. In practice, the © symbol is followed by the publication year and copyright owner’s name e.g. © 2011 Cyber Wellness Campaign. It does not give the copyright owner any substantive right and is therefore not crucial to the enjoyment of copyright protection.

Copyright Tips

Educate your children to:

1. Check the terms and conditions of use before copying, downloading or hyperlinking any online materials;
2. Write to seek permission from copyright owners before using any online materials;
3. Limit the amount of online materials that they copy to not more than 10%;
4. Ask for permission before using ideas belonging to someone else.

More Information

• Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
  
• IP Champion Camp Comic Book
  
• Honour Intellectual Property Resources
  
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
  

Copyright

Just as you ask for permission when borrowing your friend’s eraser or notebook, you should ask for permission when copying, downloading or hyperlinking content from the Internet.

When someone creates an original piece of work such as a novel, computer game, play, painting or music, he owns the copyright to it. This gives him the exclusive rights to use, distribute and adapt the work that he has created.

As a student, you may sometimes be asked by your teachers to do research using the Internet. It is important that you seek the creator’s or author’s permission before using any online materials, so that you do not break any copyright regulations.

Copyright Tips

1. You should check the terms and conditions of use before copying, downloading or hyperlinking any online materials.
2. You should seek permission from copyright owners before using any online materials.
3. You should limit the amount of online materials that you copy each time to not more than 10%.
4. You should ask for permission before using ideas belonging to someone else.

Where to seek help

Ask your parents, teachers or school counsellors if you are unsure whether your use of certain online materials breaks any copyright regulations.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Gaming Addiction

The Internet has become one of the main sources of entertainment and leisure for Singaporean youths today. Some of their online activities include keeping up with friends on social media platforms, watching online videos and playing online games.

The gaming platforms can be broadly classified into three categories, as outlined below.

1. Personal computers such as desktops, laptops, etc.;
2. Game consoles such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Wii, etc.;
3. Mobile devices such as smartphones, Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), Apple iPad, etc.;

Games are appealing to youths because they are visually, aurally and intellectually stimulating. One of the more popular game genres is Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) or virtual world games. The players find themselves immersed in the game environment and feel a sense of accomplishment when they achieve high scores or levels against other human players. This is because the virtual world is “live”, there is no ending and most importantly, friends keep them playing as part of an online social activity.

Some of the popular games among Singaporean youths include:

1. MapleStory;
2. Defense of the Ancients (DOTA; part of Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne);
3. Counter Strike Source;
4. Grand Theft Auto 4;
5. Facebook games (Farmville, Mafia Wars, Café World, Mouse Hunt, etc).

Tips Against Gaming Addiction

It is important for parents to understand the gaming motivations of their children so that appropriate real-life activities that meet the children’s needs can be identified and introduced.

1. Familiarise yourself with the games that your children are playing. Read the game reviews in the Resources section to find out more;
2. Choose age appropriate games for your children and avoid MMOGs or virtual world games (See MDA’s video game classification - http://www.mda.gov.sg/Public/MediaClassification/Pages/VideoGames.aspx);
3. Introduce music, arts or sports activities to your children to diversify their interests;
4. Educate your children to:
1. Complete their schoolwork or any household chores before playing games;
2. Take breaks from gaming regularly;
3. Spend the majority of their free time on non-gaming activities;
4. Involve the family in their gaming and Internet activities.
5. Implement family rules for gaming and consistently enforce consequences if the rules are broken.

More Information

1. Parents’ Guide to Popular Games in Singapore
   
2. Self‐Tests for Internet and Related Addictions
   
3. Online Gaming
   
4. Internet Addiction
   
5. Online Gaming: Help Kids Play It Safe
   
6. The Family Guide to Video Games
   
7. Commonsensemedia Game Reviews
   
8. Online Games: Game vs. Addiction
   

Gaming Addiction

It is fun to play games and surf the Internet. Do you enjoy playing games on your PlayStation Portable (PSP), Nintendo DS, mobile phone or computer? Do you find yourself spending too much time on these activities?

It is important to keep a good balance between time spent in the cyber world and the real world. Too much gaming can affect your studies, your relationships with your family and friends, and even your health. You should lead a balanced lifestyle by engaging in other forms of physical activities such as cycling and drawing, as well as by spending quality time with family and friends.

Play computer games for fun and relaxation – but do not allow it to rule or ruin your life!

Tips Against Game Addiction

1. You should finish your school homework before playing computer games.
2. You should seek out physical activities like basketball or cycling.
3. You should take regular breaks from computer use every 30 minutes to rest your eyes and muscles.
4. You should ensure that gaming does not take up the majority of your time by setting reasonable time limits.
5. You should involve your family in your gaming and Internet activities.

Where to seek help

Talk to your parents, teachers or school counsellors if you need advice on how to lead a more balanced life.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Inappropriate Content

In Singapore, children start to use the computer and have access to the Internet at a young age. For instance, Primary school students are expected to use the Internet to conduct research, participate in class blogs or even learning through online educational games.

Coupled with the simplicity of Internet Search engines such as Google, young children have access to online content such as information, images or videos, that is not suitable for their age group, such as pornography, offensive racist/political sites, gambling, etc.

Another area of concern is the use of internet-ready mobile devices such as smartphones, iPod Touch and Play Station Portable(PSP), which allow children to access to online content. This makes it difficult for parents to monitor their children’s mobile internet access. Parents are well-advised not to put such Internet-enabled mobile devices in the hands of their children before they can be trusted to use them responsibly.

Parents may consider using internet content filtering software to block keywords or access to undesirable websites. Refer to More Information to check what are the available filter software applications from local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and third-party software providers.

Tips to handle Inappropriate Content

There are a number of limitations to filtering software as new websites are constantly being created and existing websites may shift to another web address. Consequently, there are no guarantees filtering software will be able to block all inappropriate content from your children.

1. Educate your children:
1. About the types of inappropriate content online;
2. To only click on links and pop-ups from known and credible sources;
3. So they know that when they encounter inappropriate content, they should:
1. Close the web browser or message window;
2. Report the matter to a responsible adult;
2. Establish rules on the kinds of websites that your children can access;
3. Place the family computer in a common area so that your children’s Internet activities can be easily monitored;
4. Install filtering and parental control software to remotely monitor your children’s online activities.

More Information

1. Internet Filters Offered by Singapore Internet Service Providers
1. Singtel Security Suite
   
2. Starhub SafeSurf
   
3. M1 Internet Security
   
   
2. General Resources
1. Filtering and Monitoring Software
   
2. Pornography 101
   
3. Internet Pornography – Parts 1 and 2
   
   1. Internet Pornography - Part 1: What Are Your Children Looking at on Your Computer?
   2. Internet Pornography - Part 2: Harmless Hobby or Harmful Addiction?
4. Internet Porn Stats – Should Parents be Concerned?
   

Inappropriate Content

The Internet is filled with useful as well as harmful content in the form of pictures, text, websites and videos. Inappropriate content refers to any material that is not suitable or is harmful for someone of your age.

Examples of inappropriate content include websites that:

• encourage illegal activities such as gambling;
• encourage participation in dangerous activities;
• make you feel uncomfortable, guilty, confused or embarrassed.

Tips for Handling Inappropriate Content

1. You should go online in the presence of your parents or teachers.
2. When you see things on the Internet that make you feel uncomfortable, you should close the web browser and tell your parents or teachers about it immediately.

Where to seek help

Talk to your parents, teachers or school counsellors about anything from the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.

Privacy

In a survey conducted by Marine Parade Family Service Centre (FSC) in 2008, 1,935 secondary school students aged 13-18 in Singapore were polled on their online activities. The survey found that boys mostly engaged in online gaming (70%) and online chatting (67%), while girls mostly engaged in online chatting (78%) and social media activities (63%).

Youths are using social media platforms to chat or send personal information such as photos and videos to real-life and online friends. Examples of popular social media platforms include Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instant Messaging and Blogs.

The online social interaction may present risks when compromising personal information, photos or videos are shared online as it continues to reside somewhere on the Internet despite efforts by users to remove them completely. Similarly compromising text and photos from mobile phones can be uploaded to the Internet, thereby exposing the sender to public scrutiny.

Privacy Tips

1. Familiarise yourself with all the social media platforms used by your children.
2. Educate your children so that they will:
1. Keep their personal information private;
2. Send photos only to people they know well in person;
3. Change privacy settings in social media platforms to “private”;
4. Secure and protect their mobile phones;
5. Seek permission from others before sharing their personal information online.

More Information

1. A Parents' Guide to Facebook
2. Social Networking
3. Take Charge of your Online Reputation
4. Protect your Child’s Privacy and Your Own

Privacy

The Internet is a public place, so everyone can read what you post online. Be mindful of the kind of information you share with others.

Information that is uploaded onto the Internet often cannot be erased completely. You may try to remove the information from the Internet afterwards - but someone may have already downloaded or made a copy of it, and could easily upload it again without your permission..

In the Cyber Safety and Cyber Security sections, you will also discover that there are nasty people who can use your personal information (such as your name, home address and mobile phone number) found online to commit crimes. It is therefore important for you to learn how to protect your privacy online.

Privacy Tips

1. You should keep your personal information private.
2. You should use a nickname that does not reveal your real name, gender or age.
3. You should only send photos to people you know well in person.
4. You should only use webcams with people you know well in person.
5. You should set your photo setting to private viewing.
6. You should secure and protect your mobile phone.
7. You should seek permission from your parents before giving out any of your personal information.

Where to seek help

Ask your parents, teachers or school counsellors for advice if you are unsure whether you should put certain types of information online, or if you have any other questions relating to privacy.

You can also call TOUCHLine 1800‐377‐2252 (Mon‐Sat, 9am‐6pm) or email cyberwellness@touch.org.sg to speak to a Cyber Wellness mentor.