What is social alienation bullying?

Answer 1

Willard describes a form of cyberbullying as Exclusion which is intentionally and cruelly excluding someone from an online group. This could be considered the same as social alienation or social isolation. My research has found that social exclusion is more predominate among females than males. Exclusion is a control and manipulative technique by keeping a student out of a specific group or groups at school. Students, through cyberbullying, attack the one being bullied by saying mean things to spoil a student’s reputation, and they spread rumors that are intentionally degrading. Typically one girl starts the cyberbullying and then others join in by texting comments such as; she is so fat, look at how ugly her clothes are, she is such a loser, no boy would ever want to be with you, etc. An internet article by actagainstbullying.org, reports that science is beginning to link deliberate exclusion to an actual physical pain injury as perceived by the brain. Outcomes to being socially excluded can include depression, acting out aggressively, and even suicide.

The third rule in the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) anti-bullying rules is: “We will try to include students who are left out.” Schools implementing this program specifically address this issue through class meetings. The OBPP other three anti-bullying rules are: “We will not bully others; We will try to help students who are bullied; and, If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

Willard, N. (n.d.). Educator’s guide to cyberbullying, cyberthreats, & sexting. Retrieved March 3, 2011 from http://csriu.org/cyberbully/documents/educatorsguide.pdf

http://www.kidpower.org/library/article/shunning/

http://www.actagainstbullying.org/advice/Teens/being_excluded.htm#.VGy_Vl50wdU