Lessons from Amanda Todd’s Story — Cyberbullying and the Role of Educators

What struck you most about Amanda’s story

Watching the two documentaries Stalking Amanda Todd and The Sextortion of Amanda Todd was both heartbreaking and eye-opening. What really stuck to me most was despite Amanda trying to start over by going to new schools, deleting and starting new accounts, the relentless bullying continued to follow her everywhere. It was really touching to see the mental and emotional pain that she went through at such a young age. Even though she had the support of her parents she still felt like she was fighting her blackmailer alone. As a mom whose kids uses the internet daily, sometimes without supervision, it’s scary to think they might also be potential victims of cyberbullying.

The Harsh Reality of Cyberbullying

Amanda’s story allowed me to see how serious and damaging cyberbullying can be. The documentaries also exposed how social media can amplify shame, making young people feel isolated even when surrounded by peers and family. The internet makes it so easy for rumors, photos and cruel comments to spread instantly with the click of a button and for people to hide behind fake account a terrorized people for fun.  Amanda’s experience also goes to show how alone victims of cyberbullying feel. What’s surprising was that not much was done to by authorities and other instructions to prevent the tragic outcome of her cyberbullying.

What Educators Can Do

I think as educators it is impossible to ignore how much of student’s life is impacted and is being unfolded on the internet daily. From as young as a baby children are on the media, therefore it is the role of educator to educate students of the dangers of the media and how to be mindful of the thing the post and the sign they log on to.

How might teachers foster digital empathy, online responsibility, and a culture of care among student

Teacher can foster digital empathy and online responsibility and a culture of care among students by integrating digital literacy education, teaching students from an early age about privacy, consent, using the internet responsible, and the long-term impact of posting online. This could also be done by reflective discussions and storytelling that allow students to understand the real consequences of cyberbullying. Its is important for teachers to build a safe and inviting classroom environment where students feel comfortable coming forward if they’re being targets of bullying whether it be cyberbullying or any form of bullying, and that they trust adults will listen without judgment.

Barriers might schools or teachers face when trying to address issues like cyberbullying

As teachers, we can’t fix everything, but we can listen, believe our students, and help them see that what they do online has real emotional consequences for others. The signs were there that Amanda was struggling mentally and emotionally such as her cutting herself. I believe that if her teachers had offered more emotional support, her tragic incident could have been prevented. However, the fact remains that not all teachers and schools are equip to tackle issues of cyberbullying or how to offer emotionally and mental support for that matter. Cyberbullying is on the rise and is quickly becoming a big concern amongst our youths. Therefore, I think is important that teachers to get constant training on how to help support students emotionally and collaborate with parents and community organizations when they suspect a student is struggling emotionally. Overall, the Amanda Todd’s story is a reminder that once you post or share something online it’s almost impossible to escape, take back, or erase your digital footprint. As teachers, it is important to help students understand that every online interaction carries real emotional weight and dire consequences.