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Even if the cyberbullying occurs outside of school, the school administration will get involved because it impacts the students in school, Johnson said. When they are alerted to an issue the administration will call in the involved students to discuss the situation, as well as call their parents.

Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing on Facebook and Twitter, as well as what is being said on their phones.

Johnson suggests not allowing a child to have a Facebook account unless they are friends with their parents, grandparents and/or other relatives so those responsible adults can keep an eye on what they say and do.

Parents also should understand what their children are doing on their cellphones and on the Internet, and should try to remain aware of current technology, as well as demonstrate interest in and a basic understanding of sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

Patchin said parents should recognize how important technology is to teens. If children tell an adult about being the victim of cyberbullying, it should be taken seriously. Addressing and preventing cyberbullying takes a community effort, Patchin said.

At Morris High, there have been no incidents so severe as to result in expulsion or suspension, Johnson said. Most cases have been dealt with via detention or similar discipline. In many incidents, the Facebook harassment has helped in determining how a situation began because once it is posted on Facebook, it can be saved or printed for evidence.

"Once it's out there (on the Internet), it's forever. You can't go in reverse," Johnson said.

Depending on the incident, cyberbullying can be criminally charged through harassment with an electrical device, Huettemann said. If it is considered a threat, charges can be filed and it could result in fines, community service, probation and jail time.

But in order for it to be stopped, it has to be reported, he continued. Kids should be encouraged to talk to their parents, teachers, school counselors, or the police if they are being cyberbullied.

"The students need to let us know so we can help," said Huettemann. "A lot of times they don't want to because they don't want it to get worse, but if you're ignoring it or not replying and it hasn't stopped, you have to take it to the next level."

Another easy way to prevent yourself from being bullied is not to be friends with people online who are not truly your friends. If you don't know the person personally that is trying to befriend you online, don't accept their request, Johnson said. And if it is someone from school that you are not friends with, don't befriend them just because you go to the same school.

CONSTANT CONTACT

UW-Eau Claire researchers have talked with many teens about cyberbullying and how it affects them, and they've realized there really is no escape from cyberbullying, said Patchin.

Because children have constant access to each other through text messaging or messages or chat capabilities on social media sites, bullying can continue at all hours of the day.

"It's all encompassing: You really get no break," Patchin said.

And social media sites allow for the tormenting to be very public, he said. If a bully writes something cruel on a victim's Facebook wall, for example, everyone can see what's being said, at least from the perspective of the target.

It can be hard to trace the source of anonymously posted messages or images, and deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts and pictures also can prove challenging, according to StopBullying.gov.

Positive reactions to cyberbullying include blocking communication with the cyberbully, deleting messages without reading them, talking to a friend about the problem, or reporting it to an Internet service provider or website moderator, according to the National Crime Prevention Council.

One of the critical components to combating cyberbullying is a positive school climate, Patchin said. When it's clear to students that their teachers care, it creates a positive community and a buffer when bad things happen.

Children feel like adults are more likely to respond in such a climate, he said, and students who reported being part of a positive school climate are less likely to cyberbully others.