Digital Smarts - Another Excuse for Cyberbullying: Masks

It’s back to school – in some form or another – but bullying and cyberbullying can still happen with virtual schooling, and for those attending in-person, there is another factor as well – masks. Mask bullying is a little different and is, as experts put it, “a response to political differences, versus dominance and power dynamics associated with popularity for children." Of course, any form of bullying, about masks or anything else, has the potential to negatively affect the school year and learning, "since social humiliation or bullying will reduce opportunities for learning for children who are targeted," says Dr. Joel Haber, a cyberbullying expert who founded the site Respect U. Parents should also be aware that mask bullying will not take place just in person, but will potentailly spill over to cyberbullying as well.

If your child is going back to in-school classes, you should know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has even gone as far as adding to their web site some advice on the subject. "Stigma, discrimination, or bullying may arise due to wearing or not wearing a cloth face covering. Schools should have a plan to prevent and address harmful or inappropriate behavior. Not all families will agree with school policies about cloth face coverings. Schools should have a plan to address challenges that may arise and refer parents, caregivers, and guardians to CDC’s guidance on cloth face coverings.”