“One of the many reasons people may not want to connect online or use online applications is cyberbullying,” notes Joe Lear, a consultant for the University of Missouri Broadband Initiative. “Cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for the mental health of both youth and adults. It is important to understand how to prevent and deal with cyberbullying, should it occur to you or someone you know.”

Lear writes about cyberbullying and how to deal with it in a recent blog post on the Missouri Broadband Resource Rail. Lear is available for comment to media outlets interested in informing their communities about cyberbullying and other topics related to broadband adoption. Contact Lear at learj@missouri.edu or 816-408-0370.

More than a third of U.S. middle and high school students report experiencing online harassment, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

While cyberbullying is a serious concern with major potential impacts, Lear says teens and their parents can take positive steps to understand, respond to and prevent online harassment. Lear offers helpful tips and provides an extensive set of resources with guidance and information.

The UM Broadband Initiative works with communities and a variety of public and private partners to support the increased availability and adoption of high-speed internet in Missouri, where more than a million residents do not yet have access to online applications that play increasingly vital roles in tackling the state’s “grand challenges” in the areas of economic opportunity, educational access, and health and well-being.

The Missouri Broadband Resource Rail, at www.MoBroadband.org, is an online platform with resources such as broadband maps, funding opportunities, maps of community digital assets, internet speed tests and guides for community broadband planning.