Internet technology has taken the age-old problem of bullying to a new and troubling level.

Long gone are the days when the school bully was just the kid who calls a bespectacled student “four eyes” or annoyingly tugs on a girl’s pigtails during class.

Pediatrician Dr. Gwen McIntosh said that with electronic media such as Facebook and E-mail, something that happened at school can be splashed across the Internet, giving it national publicity.

“Bullying has taken on a different role, and victims are more vulnerable to a much bigger population,” she said.

According to a survey by the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, 13 percent of students in grades six through 10 admitted they had bullied others; 11 percent said they were the target of bullies; and six percent said they had been both bully and victim.

McIntosh said schools should make it clear that bullying among students will not be tolerated, and those who report it should not fear backlash.

“Teachers and principals need to create an atmosphere where kids should be comfortable expressing their concerns about violence, aggression or threats by students,” she said.

McIntosh also encourages parents to be vigilant and monitor their children for possible signs that they are being bullied or turning into bullies.

“If parents are getting reports from the school about a child’s aggressive or violent behavior, they should take that seriously,” she said. “A sudden change in peer group and a marked withdrawal from activities in which they normally participate could be a sign of difficulty or conflict that might manifest in a violent way. Oftentimes, adults are the last to know of these problems, and friends and peers are more aware of them early on.”