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Proactive Cyberbullying and Sexting Prevention in Australia and the USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2017

Christine Suniti Bhat
Christine Suniti Bhat*
Affiliation:
Counseling & Higher Education, Ohio University, Athens, USA
*
address for correspondence: Christine Suniti Bhat, Ohio University, Counseling & Higher Education, 432F McCracken Hall, Athens, Ohio, United States, 45701-2978. Email: bhatc@ohio.edu
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Abstract

Middle and high school students interact via powerful social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Social media platforms are sometimes misused, resulting in cyberbullying and sexting that could adversely affect many in the school community. School counsellors, school psychologists, and educators are uniquely positioned to proactively address cyberbullying and sexting in schools with targeted educational and preventative programming. Attention to four facets is recommended: school climate initiatives, policy development and implementation, training in empathy and decision making in the context of online disinhibition, and challenges to use technology positively. Resources for cyberbullying and sexting prevention in Australia and the United States are highlighted.

Keywords

cyberbullyingsextingpreventionschool counsellors and school psychologistspositive digital citizenship

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Type
Articles
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Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , June 2018 , pp. 120 - 130
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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