Internet audience makes bullies more violent

School bullies are becoming more violent, egged on by a mass cellphone and internet audience, according to a new documentary on bullying.

But parents might not realise the extent of bullying because schools are overprotective about their strategies for dealing with it and exaggerating their effectiveness, the report reveals.

The 20/20 documentary says the use of mass texting and internet sites such as Bebo and YouTube was putting conflicts between pupils in the public domain, building tension and encouraging retribution.

 In the investigation "Fight for Fame", reporter Paul Hobbs said students were literally fighting to keep their reputation intact.

"Because it's a public domain it's out there, so you get shamed."

The Education Review Office did not keep statistics on bullying, but there were anecdotal reports that bullying had become more extreme and violent, Hobbs said.

The investigation looked at two assaults at schools in Hamilton and Waiuku, south of Auckland, involving students between 14 and 16 one a premeditated attack by three girls on one girl in a school corridor, the other a fight between two boys outside school gates following a long text rivalry.

All the bullies had shown degrees of remorse, but some appeared to be more sorry that they were caught.

Violence in schools was highlighted on Wednesday when a 14-year-old Otago Boys' High School student allegedly threatened to shoot another with an imitation pistol. In another Dunedin incident on the same day, a nine-year-old boy at Forbury School reportedly presented a 15cm knife in class.

Also on Wednesday, a Year 10 girl had her head smashed into the bonnet of a car and was beaten up at Hamilton's Hillcrest High School.

20/20, TV2, Thursay, 9.30pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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James   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

^^^^^^Like it's that easy.

Michelle   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Bebo and utube should check video content for bullying...and if found to be occurring in schools then boards and staff must act to curb it. It is too easy to post video or photo content and defamatory txt. If not stopped it will only escalate.

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