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Over 800 teenagers, ages 13-17, were questioned In a 2006 survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc, commissioned by the National Crime Prevention Council(NCPC) 

The results of this poll, are similar to other surveys and findings discussed and reported on this blog.

• More than 40% of children of those surveyed, reported they had been targeted by some form of cyber bullying within the past year.
• Cyber bullying is more prevalent among girls
• Is most prevalent with 15 or 16 year olds
• Those targeted by cyber bullying, are more than twice as likely to tell a friend, not a parent or trusted adult

The teenagers surveyed suggested that cyber bullying prevention needs to occur on 3 different levels; individual, online institutions, and with parents. They believe the most effective method to stop electronic bullying, is to block the bully from contacting them (Keep in mind, there are many different methods to bullying electronically.  Although blocking may be an effective method for email, texting, etc, for those who bully via  posting hateful, harmful private information on websites, publishing videos online for the world to see, sending out emails to others, blocking will not alleviate the problem)

We as parents and educators, MUST discuss cyber bullying with our children in an open and honest fashion! 

If your children are being bullied in real life or online, would you want them to tell you?  The studies suggest, they wont.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/k12news/HI_TrendsTudes_2007_v06_i04.pdf