When I was in sixth grade, I faced a bully every day. A tall, orange-haired cheerleader frequently teased me, making fun of my pale blonde hair, freckles, and tendency to trip over even the smallest pebble on the playground. I’m nearly forty, but I still remember the emotions that girl’s comments enflamed.
Today, students face an even worse type of bully: the cyberbully. This bully is often anonymous, reaches a wide audience, and can lash out from anywhere at any time. A 2007study conducted by the National Crime Prevention Council revealed that 43% of teens said they’ve experienced online bullying.
It can be hard to escape a cyberbully’s attacks. Youth are seldom separated from their digital devices. So how do we protect our children?
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As with most issues related to children, it begins with communication. As parents, it’s difficult for us to balance our children’s need for privacy with our need to keep them safe. We need to know what our children are doing online, but we also need to give them the freedom to learn from their mistakes. Being open with your child about what rules you’ve set regarding their cell phones, computers, tables, and other digital devices is key. Let your child know when and why you will access you’ll his accounts and explain how you’ll look. Establish guidelines and consequences for dealing with any inappropriate content you discover. Lastly, regularly engage your child in conversation about online safety. Just because a teen may be annoyed at your efforts doesn’t mean he isn’t listening.
Taking the time to regularly engage your child in conversation about his digital life may seem strange to a generation that grew up with pay phones. But it is crucial to protecting our children from those who might harm them.
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Should you uncover anything that suggests your child is being bullied online, here are tips for dealing with the situation:
- Talk to your child: Advise him to avoid responding to any threats or mean comments, support him through this emotionally painful time, and avoid punishing him.
- Document the evidence: print it, take a screenshot, write down the urls.
- Contact your child’s school. Schools often have resources in place to help.
- If the cyberbully has threatened violence, contact the police.
For more information on how to protect your child from cyberbullying, visit:
- Family Online Safety Institute's Internet Safety Resources for Parents
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Stop Bullying website
Has your child been bullied online? What did you do to help? Share by posting a comment below.
About the author: Rachel Smith teaches Computer Integration at Newtown Middle School.
