Back in the days when online socialization was not a worldwide trend, parents only had to worry about the real-world problems and challenges of their kids. Kids are known to be mean to each other because they can’t filter their thoughts and just say out loud whatever comes into their minds. However, school colleagues or friends can rarely become a danger for your child.
Yet, the darker side of technological advancements has opened the gates to a whole new and scary territory of the online world and its criminals. With social media usage on the rise and increasing numbers of internet users, cyberbullying is one of the latest concerns that our world is facing. Bullying no longer stops as soon as kids get into the safety of their home. Harassers can reach them through various channels ranging from social media accounts, their mobile phones to their emails.
There is an increasing number of so-called cyberbullies who hide after their computer or smartphone screens to hide their identity from their victims. Cyberbullying can range from name-calling, rumor spreading, negative comments, or threats in the online social media platforms or through text messages. Read on to find out how to help your child stay safe online and protect them from cyberbullying.
Identifying cyberbullying
It is hard to help your child if you are not aware of the fact that they might be a victim of cyberbullying. Most kids who deal with digital harassment or stalking are experiencing a wide range of emotions and psychological traumas which stops them from asking their parents for help. They might feel ashamed, scared, confused, or overwhelmed by the situation that they are experiencing. Moreover, kids may also be unable to distinguish between their online friends and cyberbullies, allowing the harassment to continue without even noticing how much it affects them. Thus, parents need to pay attention to any sign that might help them identify whether or their kids are the victims of online harassment.
The victims of cyberbullying are often too scared or ashamed to discuss their problem but display signs that may be related to the psychological trauma they are experiencing. Here are the most common signs parents need to pay attention to:
- They may avoid leaving their phones in places where you can see it
- They feel nervous or anxious as soon as they get a text message or social media notification
- They stop using their devices even though they used to enjoy it before
- They feel anxious, depressed or sad but avoid revealing the reason behind their negative emotional state
How can parents help?
No parent wants to know that their kids are suffering, no matter the reason. While adults are less prone to be affected by cyberbullying because they know better how to deal with the situation, kids and teens often get scared by the threats of the bully and feel overwhelmed by the emotions they feel.
Just as parents want to know that in the offline world, their kids are treated with respect and are not hurt by others’ behaviors or words, it is exactly the same when it comes to the online world. Here’s how you can protect your child against digital harassment:
Inform your child about cyberbullying
Texting and digital socialization have become one of the primary methods that teens and kids use to maintain contact with their friends. Thus, forbidding your child to use social media platforms or having a smartphone isn’t the right way to protect them against cyberbullies. In fact, it can contribute to their exclusion from a society that relies on technology on a daily basis these days.
Yet, no matter how young your child might be, having a conversation about what cyberbullying is and in what forms it can affect them might be a start to empower your child to protect themselves. Explain to your child that neither of the acts of cyberbullies is acceptable and that real friends wouldn’t say or do things that would hurt them. This way, your child will be able to recognize by their own whether or not they are a victim of cyberbullying. An open conversation about online or digital harassment will make your child feel more comfortable about sharing their experiences with you.
Monitor their online activity
All parents want to know that their kids are safe both in the real world and in the online world. Monitoring your child’s online activity helps you limit the information they share on their social media accounts, who they interact with, and for what purposes. Cyberbullies often use fake accounts to harass kids meaning that your child may not even be aware of the risk they are exposing themselves to. On the other hand, parents can determine if there is something suspicious about the online persona that contacts their kids. Thus, monitoring your child’s online activity allows you to act if there is something that may result in hurting or harassing your child.
Report the harassment to the authorities
Very often, parents who discover that their kids have been hurt or bullied try to solve the situation themselves. While sometimes a mature conversation with the person can solve the situation, more often hostility provokes the bullies or attackers to become even more aggressive. You can find out who is harassing your child by performing a reverse phone lookup. All you have to do is to search the number and get all the relevant information associated with it such as social media accounts, address history, map location, and even more.
However, don’t try to stop the person on your own unless it is someone you know or trust that will listen to your advice such as one of your child’s friend or school colleague. Otherwise, it is wiser to ask for help from authorities to resolve the problem by sorting out the legal implications of the crime according to the laws and regulations that incriminate the harasser.
Cyberbullying can have a long-lasting negative impact on a child’s emotional and mental well-being. Thus, parents need to protect their children until they are old enough to make decisions for themselves.
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