The Pew Charitable Trust has funded a large number of studies on both the use of technology and communications over the years. In recent years they have begun to follow a number of trends which leave most adults, those with school or college age children, shaking their heads. A number of studies have offered excellent insights into developing phenomena in cyberspace, phenomena about which most adults - even those with teenage children - are only dimly aware.

On June 27 Pew released another study (Pew Internet and American Life Project), one on cyberbullying, which reinforces the findings of other researchers over the 1 -2 years. According to the report, which was written by Amanda Lenhart, one in three teenagers who use the Internet has experienced some form of harassment. While most teens say that they are more likely to be bullied offline than online, online harassment is growing with girls victims more often than boys (38 percent vs. 26 percent). Older teenage girls (age 15 - 17) who use websites such as MySpace or Facebook or use the Internet daily are the ones most likely to have been bullied over the Internet in some fashion.

The Pew report indicates the cyberbullying behaviors range from "relatively benign" to "truly threatening" and generally fall into four different categories:

* someone taking a private e-mail, IM or text message you sent them and forwarding it to someone else or posting it where others could see it

* someone spreading a rumor about you online

* someone sending you a threatening or aggressive e-mail, IM or text message

* someone posting an embarrassing picture of you online without your permission.

Bullying over the Internet is no different than any other form of bullying. Caution your children against getting caught up in it and take steps to protect them if you find that they have been victimized.