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A new way kids are being bullies

Page Last Updated: Wednesday November 4, 2009 10:51am PST

The 24-hour technological world is changing the way students bully each other. Cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent in schools across the country, and it's an issue school districts are dealing with. "It does interfere with the school day because we are getting more reports of actual bullying and threats that are being received by students on their phones," Washoe County School District police officer Jeff Redmond said.

Redmond is currently investigating a cyberbullying case that involves physical threats through a text message.

He says kids believe they can hide behind technology, and they are more likely to make threats through a message than face to face.

That's one of the problems with cyberbullying. Research shows bullying through technology gives the bully a sense of anonymity which can make them less inhibited in what they say.

Information can also be passed along to limitless people at once, and it can be difficult to supervise what is going on in cyberspace.

"Kids are already having a hard enough time fitting in with groups and being a part of other social situations, and then when they're being harassed and stalked on their cell phone or through a website or having their pictures posted without their permission and things like that, it really becomes a horrifying experience," Katherine Loudon with the school district's Safe and Drug Free Schools program said.

We went to the WCSD to see what plans it has to fight the growing problem.

Loudon says they are training and collaborating with teachers and different departments throughout the school district. They are also reaching out to students.

"We've given every middle school and high school public service announcements that are outreaching to the kids and letting them know about how damaging cyberbullying is," she said.

Loudon says the school district also needs parents to talk to their kids about bullying and cyberbullying. For a list of resources, you can visit the WCSD website.

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