Bullying is nothing new. However, the ways a bully can
attack his or her prey are ever changing. With each new advancement in
technology, the bullies of the world find new and improved ways to taunt and
hurt their victims.
In fact, the opportunities through which bullies can
practice their art really have improved because today, the bully can remain
almost anonymous thanks to the prevalence of computers, notebooks, tablets and
cell phones. With these, a bully can continue to inflict hurt on the subject of
their ire while risking little chance of being exposed. It’s called cyber
bullying.
The Internet threw open the gates for people to bully others
in virtual (no pun intended) anonymity via the use of chat rooms and instant
messages. This meant every time your child had access to a computer they were
potentially exposed to cyberbullying. Think of it like your kids taking the
shortcut through the dark alley on the way home from school – using it doesn’t
guarantee being picked on by a bully, but it certainly increases the odds. Then
came the likes of smartphones and tablets and new social media programs and
applications they supported, and suddenly children had 24/7 access to the
Internet; or, to put it another way, they spent much more time in that darkened
alley – traditionally the hunting ground of the bully.
Facebook, Twitter and SMS texts have become paradise for the
cyberbully. By using false accounts and temporary email addresses, cyber
bullies can remain anonymous while sending cruel and embarrassing and mean
messages and/or images. Cyber bullying can go even further than that, extending
to threats and continued harassment. Some statistics reckon that as many as 42%
of 4th-8th graders have been the victims of cyberbullying, while other surveys
put it at 20%-30%. Either way the figures are alarmingly high, and
statistically speaking, there’s a good probability your children could be the
victims of cyberbullying. Of even more concern is that over 50% of children
admit to having said mean and hurtful things to others online, and 30% of kids
acknowledged they had done so more than once – yes, your children could be
cyberbullies.
Because it’s an emerging trend, knowing exactly how to
identify cyberbullying – both the victims and the perpetrators – is still a
work in progress; and, the same is true of parents knowing what to do about it
should their child fall prey to it or be caught instigating it. As with so many
things these days, one of the most useful resources parents have available is,
ironically enough, the Internet.
Plenty of material exists online pertaining to cyber
bullying. But although it is impossible to completely shield your kids from the
threat of cyberbullies, you can certainly reduce their exposure with a bit of
research and some common sense. Telltale signs of cyberbullying include a child
being overly furtive and secretive with their digital devices, as well as
showing signs of upset or anxiety after being online. Checking up on your kids’
online antics (the sites they visit, messages they send, etc.) is also sage
advice, and the use of parental blocks and security settings should be second
nature for parents. If you suspect your kids are being bullied, talk to them
about it so they don’t feel isolated and helpless; and, if you think your child
is instigating cyberbully tactics, let them know that their cell phone or
laptop is a privilege to be respected or could be withdrawn from them is
abused.
Can you stop cyberbullying? No, probably not, but you can
limit your kids’ exposure to it and its effects. So take the time, and even if
you don’t personally use Twitter, Facebook, or the other social media
platforms, learn about them and make sure your child is using them responsibly
and safely.
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