Cyberbullying - Keeping your Kids Safe Online

Todd is a twelve year-old boy. A straight ‘A’ student, Todd is smart and shy and a self-proclaimed "geek" Todd has gotten used to not getting invited to social events like parties or play dates. Instead, he enjoys the companionship he receives from his fantasy role play games online where he has met and chatted with hundreds of other geeks from all over the world. Todd has learned over the years to sit alone at lunch time and spend recess in a classroom working on school work or reading the latest science fiction novel. He has been the victim of bullying. He knows the drill, find an adult, tell them what happened, sit in the principal’s office and witness the perpetrators receive detention or suspensions. The novelty has worn off for the playground bullies, and Todd feels he is "safer" at school than in years passed. Although the daily face-to-face bullying has been reduced, the bullies have found a new way to torment Todd. Hidden away from the watchful protection of teachers and parents, they have begun to harass him electronically. Despite being extremely computer literate and savvy in his ability to block their repeated attempts, Todd recognizes that he is on the defensive every time he boots up his computer or checks his voicemail or text messages. Todd’s new motto is, "Sticks and stones will break your bones but cyberbullying hurts even more! Unfortunately there is no way to protect yourself from devices you have to use throughout the day, and I am NOT giving up my computer or cell phone! Besides, it’s cyberspace! How do you know who to tell on?"




Cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through electronic media such as e-mails, instant messages, comments or posts on personal webpage profiles, phone messages, and text messages.


As playground bullying continues to be a real threat to our children, Cyberbullying is a common issue for pre-teens and teens today. Although the emotional response is similar to physical bullying, the dynamics are different. A playground bully needs physical strength and muscle to gain the fear and respect necessary for intimidation. In cyberspace all you need is a computer, cell phone, and persistence. Playground bullies get their reinforcement by the crowd cheering them on, in cyberspace there can be an audience of one or as large as thousands. Today the aggressor posts hurtful, derogatory words on profiles to achieve humiliation and embarrassment. Or a friend can print out a "secret chat" and distribute it to other classmates to reveal feelings. Camera phones also avail children to taking private pictures and distributing them. Hurtful text messages can be sent repeatedly not only costing emotional hurt, but can have financial consequences depending on what plan your child’s cell phone has.

So what can parents do? Computers and cell phones have become "necessities" but there are still ways to establish safe boundaries to help your child handle a cyberbully attack.


Try the following tips to help keep your child safe from abuse:

Discuss with your child the importance of not giving their real name, email address or mobile phone number to people outside their circle of friends and family.


Make sure they only use moderated chat rooms.


Install computer software to ensure that you only receive emails from people you have chosen and to block unwanted images such as this one recently created in Australia.


Consider which cell phone plan is the most appropriate for your child’s age, usage, and discuss the parameters with them before activating the phone.


Encourage your child to talk to you about anything that has been upsetting them.


Tell them they can show you any abusive or offensive messages they’ve received and keep a record of them.


Tell them never to respond to any abusive messages or calls – this is frequently what the abuser wants.


Report any abuse to the police, your child’s school, the internet service provider, the website manager/moderator or the mobile phone company. Use this Report Form to file a report.


As a final resort, consider changing your email address or telephone number if the abuse continues.

For additional tips on how to help your child deal with Cyberbullying please contact me at havi@health-e-connections.com


Article provided by: examiner.com