A message-board comment that pokes fun at your weight or physical features.

A blog posting that lies about your character or reputation.

Repeated instant-messages that accuse you of something you didn?t do.

Sound familiar? They?re all examples of cyber-bullying, a growing problem among digitally-minded teens and young people.

"People go back and forth yelling at each other on MySpace (comment boards)," said Kelly, 14. "They just confront each other. It?s crazy."

But what is cyber-bullying?

The act typically is defined as sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or digital-communication devices.

Although not as immediate as the result of a face-to-face confrontation, the consequences of such negative online exchanges can be just as severe ? and hurtful.

"Whenever there?s a problem (between students), a lot of the drama can stem back to the Internet," said Officer Brett Peachey of the Westerville Police Department.

A resource officer at Blendon Middle School in Westerville, Peachey said he?s seen the incidents grow worse and more frequent in his jurisdiction during the past year, and that cyber-bullying remains an underreported problem.

"It used to be that people said things behind your back. Now they post messages online, and anybody who sees that profile, . . . 40, 50, 60 people can read those comments. I don?t think parents know how bad it can be."

An informal Dispatch survey of several area schools found a range of Internetuse policies that address cyber-bullying. Some, such as Olentangy Schools? policy, require students to sign a contract before using school-owned PCs.

In several districts, the consequences for improper online conduct can range from loss of computer privileges to suspension or even legal action, if the situation warrants.

But as more kids use the Internet at home, away from school, to communicate ? and hostile-minded video games and movies such as Bully and Mean Girls remain popular ? the problem isn?t going away.

A study of 1,500 teens published last year in the journal Pediatrics found that nearly one in 10 teens who use the Internet report being harassed online.

Another study, by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Florida Atlantic University, found that 34 percent of teens claim to be victims of cyber-bullying, most commonly in chat rooms, from text messages or by e-mail.

Girls, studies show, are more often the perpetrators ? and the victims ? than boys.

Why do people cyber-bully?

In some ways, that remains a puzzle. You probably wouldn?t seriously insult someone to their face or threaten them directly.

But on the Internet, that common etiquette often goes right out the window, especially in forms that provide maximum anonymity, such as instant messaging and e-mail where you can use fake screen names and addresses.

"Kids tend to get a lot crueler when they think they?re anonymous," said Jim Bisenius, a former child therapist from Reynoldsburg who now works as a bullying-prevention expert and speaks at central Ohio schools.

"Most kids who cyber-bully are showing (their work) to other kids. And when people read stuff, they think it?s true ? even if it?s completely fabricated."

Although Ohio does have an antistalking law that includes forms of electronic communication, the law is broadly written and, in many cases, difficult to define and enforce.

Cyber-bullying is difficult for school administrators to police if the messages are sent from home computers or personal cell phones and don?t involve fights on or threats toward school property.

Likewise, some free-speech advocates are concerned about the possible loss of kids? First Amendment rights on their own electronic devices, even if the content they choose to write is nasty.

"It?s such an emerging area," said Allen Shaffer, a Columbus lawyer who handles school-district and technology-use issues. "It?s not the law that answers the (cyber-bullying) question at the moment. It?s teachers and parents interpreting for kids what is appropriate behavior."

Meanwhile, keeping your own emotions ? and words ? in check online can help avoid problems, too. Be careful what you say on the computer; it?s often difficult to determine if someone?s being sarcastic or insulting since you can?t hear or see them.

Keeping things civil and polite can break down the digital barriers that don?t exist in face-to-face conversation.

"Don?t cuss online or say rude things about the other person or their family," said Morgan, 11. "That?s important."

kjoy@dispatch.com?