The experiences of elementary school pupils about virtual violence

Istraživanje sam provela u dvije osnovne škole na području grada Zaprešića, OŠ Antuna Augustinčića i OŠ Pavao Belas. Naime, ranije su obje škole bile pod istim imenom te bi djeca nakon završenog četvrtog razreda nastavila školovanje u drugoj školi koja je bila od prvog do osmog razreda. Tako je osnovna škola Antuna Augustinčića moja matična škola što je i jedan od glavnih razloga odabira ove škole. Nadalje, željela sam otkriti stvarno stanje u svom rodnom kraju po pitanju elektroničkog nasilja na najpoznatijoj društvenoj mreži današnjice. Želim roditeljima i učiteljima usmjeriti pažnju na ozbiljnost ovog problema, moguće posljedice i važnost suzbijanja istog. Gotovo pa i ne postoji dijete kojem danas nije dostupan Internet. Provedeno istražvanje je pokazalo da društvene mreže uz YouTube čine najposjećenije web stranice, a Facebook je i dalje najpopularnija. Glavna hipoteza je potvrđena i djeca, pogotovo dječaci nisu svjesni virtualnog nasilja koje se događa oko njih i njima samima. Najčešće opravdanje je „šalio sam se“ što nam dokazuje ne prepoznavanje virtualnog nasilja. Djevojčice su svjesnije situacije, ali i dalje je jedna od najčešćih reakcija ne poduzimanje ničega u svrhu rješavanja problema, ignoriranje. Dječaci su češći korisnici Facebook-a, a time i češći pokretači i žrtve nasilja. Jedna od najpoznatijih strategija suzbijanja elektroničkog nasilja jest blokiranje poruka koje dolaze od počinitelja ili promjena internetske adrese. Stručnjaci ističu, iako najčešće upotrebljavana (što pokazuju i rezultati istraživanja), ova strategija samo je kratkoročno rješenje. Dobar odnos djeteta i roditelja dovodi do postizanja kompromisa, tj. pravilnika za korištenje interneta. Najbolja prevencija je edukacija učitelja, roditelja, a najviše djece. Djecu bi trebalo podučiti o sigurnosti na internetu, detaljno im objasniti što podrazumijeva elektroničko nasilje te kako ga mogu prijaviti. Razvitkom tehnologije svakidašnji život većine ljudi postao je nezamisliv bez interneta, a to je medijska platforma koja „nema vlasnika, nitko ga ne kontrolira te ne postoji u stvarnome svijetu". Također, nudi mnogobrojne informacije, jednostavnu i jeftinu komunikaciju s ljudima diljem svijeta. Međutim druženje prijatelja u stvarnome svijetu, uz pomoć interneta i društvenih mreža, zamijenjeno je druženjem u virtualnom svijetu. Virtualni svijet nudi mnoštvo korisnih informacija i mogućnosti, međutim postoje ljudi koji ih zloupotrebljavaju. Jedna od mogućnosti zloupotrebe je i elektroničko nasilje koje uključuje širenje laži, uvredljivog sadržaja, pisanog ili slikovnog, uhođenje, vrijeđanje, narušavanje privatnosti, kreiranje grupa za poticanje mržnje, vrijeđanje putem računala, mobitela ili bilo kojeg drugog digitalnog uređaja. Anonimnost je najbitnija karakteristika elektroničkog nasilja te prva i najveća razlika od fizičkog nasilja. Ona djeci daje lažnu hrabrost, upotrebljavaju puno gori rječnik jer nema izravnog fizičkog kontakta, a prema tome nema odmah vidljivih posljedica te zato djeca teže shvaćaju da uopće postoje neke posljedice. Nasilje iza zaslona računala ili mobitela omogućuje počinitelju zlostavljanje žrtve bez obzira gdje ona bila. Također, u elektroničkom nasilju publika je puno brojnija nego pri fizičkom nasilju. Iako elektroničko nasilje ponekad počinje samo kao šala, nerijetko završava s ozbiljnim posljedicama. Posljedice koje se primjećuju na žrtvi jest osjećaj tjeskobe, depresije, manjak samopouzdanja te pad koncentracije. Djeca ne moraju nužno biti zlostavljana od strane svojih vršnjaka kako bismo takvo djelo svrstali u nasilje. Internetske stranice sadrže sve više sadržaja koji je dostupan svima, primjerice pornografski sadržaj, zatim predmeti koji se ilegalno prodaju, oglasi za duhanske i alkoholne proizvode. Jedna od najgorih posljedica učestalog elektroničkog nasija jest samoubojstvo.The research was carried out in two primary schools in the area of Zaprešić, Primary School of Antun Augustinčić and Primary School of Pavao Belas. Both schools were previously under the same name and the children after the fourth grade completed their education in the second school from the first to the eighth grade. That is how the elementary school of Antun Augustinčić is my primary school, which is one of the main reasons for choosing this school. Further, I wanted to find out the actual state of affairs in the field of electronic violence in the most famous social network of today. I want parents and teachers to focus on the seriousness of this problem, the possible consequences and the importance of combating it. Almost every child has access to the Internet nowadays. The conducted research has shown that social networks with YouTube are the most visited sites, and Facebook is still the most popular. The main hypothesis is confirmed by children, especially boys are not aware of the virtual violence that is happening around them and to them. The most common justification is "I'm joking", which proves us that children don’t recognize the virtual violence. Girls are more aware of the situation but still one of the most common reactions is not taking any effort to solve the problem, ignoring. Boys are more common Facebook users, and therefore they are more involved in cyber violence either as a bully or a victim. One of the most famous strategies of combating electronic violence is blocking messages received from a bully or changing an internet address. Experts point out, although most commonly used (as the research results show), this strategy is just a short-term solution. A good relationship between the child and the parent leads to a compromise and the rulebook for using the Internet. The best prevention is the education of teachers, parents, and most children. Children should be taught about security on the Internet, detailing them in what electronic violence is and how they can report it. By continuously developing technology, the everyday life of most people had become unimaginable without the Internet, a media platform that "has no owner, no one controls it, and does not exist in the real world." It also offers a wealth of information, easy and inexpensive communication with people all over the world. Socializing in a real world has been replaced by socializing in the virtual world. The virtual world offers a wealth of useful information and features, but there are people who abuse them. One of the abuses is electronic violence or cyberbullying which includes spreading lies, insulting content, disrupting privacy, creating hate speech groups, insulting through a computer, cell phone, or any other digital device. Anonymity is the most important feature of electronic violence and the first and greatest difference from physical violence. It gives children a false courage, uses a much worse dictionary because they have no direct physical contact and therefore have no apparent consequences immediately, so children are more likely to realize that there are some consequences at all. Violence behind a computer screen or cell phone allows abuser to abuse the victim no matter where she is. Although electronic violence sometimes starts only as a joke, it often ends with serious consequences. The consequences of the victim are the feeling of anxiety, depression, lack of confidence, and decreasing in concentration. Children do not necessarily have to be abused by their friends. Websites contain more and more content available to everyone, such as pornographic content, then illegally sold items, ads for tobacco and alcoholic products. One of the worst consequences is suicide. One of the most famous strategies of combating electronic violence is blocking messages coming from an abuser or changing an internet address. Experts point out, although most commonly used this strategy is just a short-term solution. A good relationship between the child and the parent leads to a compromise. The best prevention is the education of teachers, parents, and most children. Children should be taught about security of the Internet, detailing them in what electronic violence is and how they can report it