Standing up to cyber bullies

Social Sciences

Cyber bullying via mobile phones and the Internet is becoming a serious problem in Australian schools, according to a University of Adelaide academic.

Dr Shoko Yoneyama, a Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the School of Social Sciences, is part of a Coalition of South Australian schools and universities who are tackling bullying, harassment and violence in the State's classrooms.

Dr Yoneyama represented the University at an international bullying conference held in Adelaide in late June.

Up to 200 teachers and researchers attended the Safer South Australian School Conference organised by the Coalition.

In Australia, 6% of school students are bullied on a weekly basis, resulting in most state governments now adopting anti-bullying policies.

Dr Yoneyama said the ramifications of cyber bullying were widespread. However, the Coalition was looking to use modern technology to spread anti-bullying messages, employing the same devices (mobile phones and the Internet) to good effect.

Dr Yoneyema presented a paper in the session: Cultures of Change in Bullying, comparing the culture of bullying in Japanese schools with Australian schools.

"In Japan, 80% of bullying is carried out by a group, rather than an individual. It happens in close friendships where the victim is not excluded from the group but harassed for a period before it's someone else's turn. 'Good students' are involved in bullying, instead of 'problem kids'."

Bullying among international students is also an issue in Australian schools and universities - a national problem which Dr Yoneyama's faculty is keen to investigate.

"Asian students make up over 90% of our total population of international students in Australian schools and 75% of those students are from China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. Our expertise in Asian Studies can contribute to understanding these students better, with the view to make their overseas study as positive as possible."

Story by Candy Gibson

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