Cyberbullying: A Parent's Guide to Identifying and Addressing Online Bullying
Learn how to recognise the signs of cyberbullying and take action to protect your child
Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to upset or target another person deliberately. It can happen anywhere, anytime, and feel inescapable because it often occurs on devices that young people have constant access to and live their lives through. The bully can be someone your child knows or a complete stranger.
When I was growing up it was generally quite easy to identify who the bullies were and observe the bullying and its affects. That is not the case in this modern age and it genuinely scares me how easy it has become to use the online world and many of the innovations it has brought with it as a weapon against others.
Types of Cyberbullying
Messages: Hurtful, abusive, or humiliating messages.
Comments: Negative remarks on someone's posts.
Tagging: Linking someone to embarrassing content.
Memes: Humiliating someone with a photo and caption.
Images: Sharing or manipulating images of someone without consent, is more dangerous now with the advent of AI and Deepfake apps.
Indirect Bullying: Negative comments about someone without naming them.
Exclusion: Deliberately leaving someone out of online groups.
Outing: Revealing someone's private information without consent.
Harassment: Aggressive pressure or intimidation.
Impersonation: Pretending to be someone to humiliate them.
Voting: Creating or participating in abusive polls about someone.
Impacts of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can cause significant emotional distress, including:
Fear, worry, and feeling overwhelmed
Embarrassment and anger
Confusion and physical illness
Low self-esteem and self-harm
Withdrawal from online activities
Sudden changes in behaviour
Cyberbullying has all too often resulted in the far too premature deaths of young and vulnerable children who have hidden the bullying and also been subjected to the addition of further bullying by trolls who treat it like a hobby and don’t even know the children they are targetting.
Top Tips for Dealing with Cyberbullying
Save the Evidence: Encourage your child to take screenshots or keep messages as evidence.
Don't Deny Access to Technology: Removing devices might prevent your child from confiding in you in the future.
Don't Reply: Reacting is what bullies often want. Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult instead.
Use Available Tools: Report, block, and take screenshots of the bullying.
Speak to the School: Schools can offer support and guidance for you and your child.
As with physical bullying it is certainly not something that is easy to deal with but knowing about it and being able to guide and support them through will certainly be a great start and something you can succeed against together.
Now remember my mantra when it comes to protecting your children online: “Communication is key!” Being approachable is extremely important so that children know they can come to you with any concerns. It is far too easy to hide online activity these days as children become far more technically literate than their parents.
Conversation Starters
What's the biggest challenge for young people your age online today?
What's the difference between banter and bullying?
How would you/your friends respond to cyberbullying?
Is there a difference between physical and online bullying?
Is everything okay online? I'm here to talk if you need to.
Remember, open communication and support are crucial in helping your child navigate the online world safely.
As always, I am here to support you all. Feel free to comment with any comments, questions, or suggestions for future content that you want me to investigate.
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