Virtual social contact is an extremely powerful and desirable way for young people to extend and enhance their peer communications beyond the playground.  However a group of young people, speaking at the UK Safer Internet Day conference earlier this year, commented that the fun of new wireless technologies has been dampened by the new form of bullying they have facilitated.

Jonathan, aged 15, said:
“It’s amazing just how quickly you can send pictures around the school.”

There have been reported cases in the UK of young people video recording school fights for circulation.  Furthermore, photo and video images taken using a mobile phone can be easily manipulated with the aid of a PC.  These can then be downloaded back to the phone and rapidly distributed across a Bluetooth network or placed on the Internet for worldwide viewing.

The fun of ‘zapping’ images to your friends is understandable.  However users of Bluetooth enabled devices are also susceptible to “bluejacking” if they do not activate appropriate safety mechanisms. Bluejacking is when other Bluetooth enabled users search for a device and anonymously access files or send abusive messages.

At present, there is a clear need for mobile operators to continuously review their codes of practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles.  There is also an immediate requirement for schools to recognise and take preventative measures against this new form of bullying.