Bullies no longer have to be face-to-face with a child to cause pain – they can do it from a phone, tablet, or laptop at all hours of the day or night. Bullies who are able to hide behind screens have created a whole new set of challenges for parents who want to protect their kids.
Cyber Bullying occurs when a child targets, torments, and harasses another child using digital technology or a mobile device.
How to Protect Your Child from Cyber Bullying
There are some things you, as a parent, can do to help keep your child from becoming a victim of cyber bullying.
- Know your child’s social media passwords
- Teach your children to confide in you if they, or someone they know, is being cyber bullied
- Be aware of the sites your child visits online
- Follow your child on social media
- Install parental control filters and monitoring programs
- Have rules about how/when your child uses technology
- Teach them to use social media responsibly
Is My Child being Cyber Bullied? – What to Look for
As a parent, it can be hard to spot signs that your child is being cyber bullied. Some things that signal your child has been targeted are behavior that seems out of character, a voluntary withdrawal from technology, or if he or she is unusually withdrawn.
What You Can Do to Find Out if Your Child Is Being Cyber Bullied
If you suspect your child is being cyber bullied, first, talk with your child. If he or she seems reluctant to talk openly with you, check your child’s phone and social media accounts to see if you notice anything out of the ordinary. A quick Google search of your child’s name will let you know if there is other information about him or her on the web.
My Child Is being Cyber Bullied – What You Can Do?
If you find that your child is the target of cyber bullying, here is what you can do to help make it stop:
- Block the bully
- Warn the bully that you are aware of the situation
- Inform your child’s school of the situation
- If the bully threatens you or child physically, report this to the police
Parents are in a new world of technology now, and they must be proactive and aware of what is happening with your child. Doing this will help protect them from cyber bullying and will let you know if they become victims.
The information and content on our website should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment or advice from your doctor.
Model/stock photo above.
