The Authors Reply:

Abstract

We appreciate the interest of Liang in our manuscript on traditional and cyber bullying [[1]Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Luk J.W. Bullying victimization among underweight and overweight U.S. youth: Differential associations for boys and girls.J Adolesc Health. 2010; 47: 99-101PubMed Scopus (100) Google Scholar]. With increasingly popularity of Internet and cell phone use among children and adolescents, problems with cyber bullying have grown rapidly. The media focus on related incidents of adolescent suicide has grasped significant worldwide attention. Although successful interventions have been developed to address bullying [[2]Olweus D. Limber S. Blueprints for violence prevention: Bullying prevention program. Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO1999Google Scholar] and these might generalize to cyber bullying, as mentioned in Liang's letter, there is a lack of effective intervention focusing on cyber bullying.Liang suggests developing anti-cyber-bullying computer programs, which may detect bullying messages and send warning messages to the bullies and comforting messages to the victims. We agree that his idea to “let the computer help” should be explored. Studies have shown that both cyber bullies and victims spend more time on computers than the noninvolved [3Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Luk J.W. Computer use and internet bullying among US adolescents: Gender and grade differences.J eHealth Technol Appl. 2009; 7: 9-15Google Scholar, 4Ybarra M.L. Mitchel K.J. Wolak J. et al.Examining characteristics and associated distress related to Internet harassment: Findings from the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey.Pediatrics. 2006; 118: 1169-1177Crossref PubMed Scopus (352) Google Scholar]. Thus, computers may provide an effective means to convey educational and warning messages to those at risk.In addition, including a documentation function could be useful to increase parental or school monitoring. A supportive parent-child relationship may prevent cyber bullying and cyber victimization [[5]Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Nansel T.R. School bullying among US adolescents: Physical, verbal, relational and cyber.J Adolesc Health. 2009; 45: 368-375Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1204) Google Scholar]. Therefore, it is important that computer software is designed to be a supplement to, not a replacement for, parental involvement. Validation of the effectiveness of such software should not only include an immediate effect on the emotional effect of the event for both the bully and the victim, but also of its effect on parent-child relationships and whether it increases parent-child communication and the child's perception of parental support. Prevention of cyber bullying should actively involve responsible adults, for example, parents, teachers, health psychologists, and even Internet social network employees. To accomplish this, there might be a need for a reporting function which informs parents of both the bully and the victim.In conclusion, with the increasing popularity of Internet use and rapidly growing cyber bullying related psychological harm among children and adolescents, anti-cyber bullying computer programs may provide a valuable and targeted approach in the battle against cyber bullying, particularly if it can actively involve parents and increase school and community awareness. Future research is needed to evaluate effectiveness of such anti-cyber-bullying computer programs in cyber bullying prevention, as a supplement to parent involvement and school anti-bullying programs and policies. We appreciate the interest of Liang in our manuscript on traditional and cyber bullying [[1]Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Luk J.W. Bullying victimization among underweight and overweight U.S. youth: Differential associations for boys and girls.J Adolesc Health. 2010; 47: 99-101PubMed Scopus (100) Google Scholar]. With increasingly popularity of Internet and cell phone use among children and adolescents, problems with cyber bullying have grown rapidly. The media focus on related incidents of adolescent suicide has grasped significant worldwide attention. Although successful interventions have been developed to address bullying [[2]Olweus D. Limber S. Blueprints for violence prevention: Bullying prevention program. Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO1999Google Scholar] and these might generalize to cyber bullying, as mentioned in Liang's letter, there is a lack of effective intervention focusing on cyber bullying. Liang suggests developing anti-cyber-bullying computer programs, which may detect bullying messages and send warning messages to the bullies and comforting messages to the victims. We agree that his idea to “let the computer help” should be explored. Studies have shown that both cyber bullies and victims spend more time on computers than the noninvolved [3Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Luk J.W. Computer use and internet bullying among US adolescents: Gender and grade differences.J eHealth Technol Appl. 2009; 7: 9-15Google Scholar, 4Ybarra M.L. Mitchel K.J. Wolak J. et al.Examining characteristics and associated distress related to Internet harassment: Findings from the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey.Pediatrics. 2006; 118: 1169-1177Crossref PubMed Scopus (352) Google Scholar]. Thus, computers may provide an effective means to convey educational and warning messages to those at risk. In addition, including a documentation function could be useful to increase parental or school monitoring. A supportive parent-child relationship may prevent cyber bullying and cyber victimization [[5]Wang J. Iannotti R.J. Nansel T.R. School bullying among US adolescents: Physical, verbal, relational and cyber.J Adolesc Health. 2009; 45: 368-375Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1204) Google Scholar]. Therefore, it is important that computer software is designed to be a supplement to, not a replacement for, parental involvement. Validation of the effectiveness of such software should not only include an immediate effect on the emotional effect of the event for both the bully and the victim, but also of its effect on parent-child relationships and whether it increases parent-child communication and the child's perception of parental support. Prevention of cyber bullying should actively involve responsible adults, for example, parents, teachers, health psychologists, and even Internet social network employees. To accomplish this, there might be a need for a reporting function which informs parents of both the bully and the victim. In conclusion, with the increasing popularity of Internet use and rapidly growing cyber bullying related psychological harm among children and adolescents, anti-cyber bullying computer programs may provide a valuable and targeted approach in the battle against cyber bullying, particularly if it can actively involve parents and increase school and community awareness. Future research is needed to evaluate effectiveness of such anti-cyber-bullying computer programs in cyber bullying prevention, as a supplement to parent involvement and school anti-bullying programs and policies. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development . Cyberbullying, Let the Computer HelpJournal of Adolescent HealthVol. 47Issue 2PreviewTo the Editor: Full-Text PDF