Cyberbullying And Its Negative Impact On Social Networking

The following was submitted by Mary Anne Seraphin. To submit your own content, e-mail the editor at news@westfordcat.org

Cyberbullying takes cruelty to a whole new level. Derogatory and abusive text or cell phone messages or Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter posts can spread quickly and cause far-ranging, long-lasting damage.  Dr. Elizabeth K. Englander, psychology professor and founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC), will present Understanding Cyberbullying And Social Networking on Wednesday, January 21. (Thursday, January 22, will be used as a snow date if the weather is inclement.) Dr. Englander is a nationally recognized researcher and trainer in the field of childhood aggression, bullying, and cyberbullying.

Digital communications – online, or via texting – are a central part of socializing for children today. That can be both good and bad. While parents do not need to be technology experts, they do need to pay attention to what their kids are doing. Dr. Englander spoke with Blanchard and Stony Brook middle school students last year, and this parent presentation is a continuation of that conversation.

This event – which is free and made possible by the Westford Parent Connection – begins at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in the Stony Brook Middle School auditorium, 9 Farmer Way, Westford. For more information, go to http://www.elizabethenglander.com or contact Mary Anne Seraphin at mseraphin@comcast.net. You can also go to the Westford Parent Connection website at http://wwwwestfordparentconnection.com for more details.