Tips for Teachers
Cyber Bullying Activity
Here’s an activity you can have your students do in groups to help them understand why people will say things online—both good and bad—that they would never say in person. This phenomenon is called the “online disinhibition effect.”
Contributing Factors
Psychologists believe there are several factors that contribute to the online disinhibition effect. They include:
- You don’t know me (anonymity)
- You can’t see me (invisibility)
- See you later (not interacting in “real time”)
- It’s all in my head (they begin to think their online companion is a creation of their own mind)
- It’s just a game (it’s not real)
- We’re equals (no fear of retribution by authority)
What They Mean
Have your students work in groups to describe what they think each of the factors mean and how they might contribute to the “online disinhibition effect.” Or you can assign each group one factor and have them report back and discuss it with the class.
