Start a Discussion with Your Child about Cyberbullying

 

 

Use these discussion starters to get an Internet safety conversation going with your children. The more often you talk to them about online safety, the easier it will get, so don’t get discouraged if they don’t respond immediately!

• Why do you think people cyberbully?
• How does your school deal with cyberbullying?
• Have you ever sent a mean message because you were upset?
• What would you do if someone created a mean, fake profile for you or one of your friends?
• How can you stop yourself from being cyberbullied?
• Who would you talk to if it happened to you?

Help Protect Children from Cyberbullying

 

 

Bullying is often seen as an unfortunate, but natural part of adolescence. However, pediatrician Dr. Sharon Cooper warns, “Cyberbullying can affect the social, emotional, and physical health of a child.” For these reasons, it is important that parents and guardians take steps to help their child deal with and respond to cyberbullying.

• Tell your child not to respond to rude e-mails, messages, and comments.
• Save the evidence, such as e-mail and text messages, and take screenshots of comments and images. Also, take note of the date and time when the harassment occurs.
• Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) or cell phone provider. Ask the website administrator or ISP to remove any Web page created to hurt your child.
• If harassment is via e-mail, social networking sites, IM, and chat rooms, instruct your child to “block” bullies or delete your child’s current account and open a new one.
• If harrassment is via text and phone messages, change the phone number and instruct your child to only share the new number with trustworthy people. Also, check out phone features that may allow the number to be blocked.
• Get your child’s school involved. Learn the school’s policy on cyberbullying and urge administrators to take a stance against all forms of bullying.
• Make a report to www.cybertipline.com, and if you feel something illegal has occurred, inform law enforcement.



 

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month so we want to take this opportunity to help teens resolve their differences before they escalate. Below are some tips from NetSmartz that can help teens manage their emotions and make good decisions.


STEP AWAY TO CALM DOWN.
Pick an activity that makes you feel better like taking a walk, reading a book, or listening to music.

TALK THINGS OUT WITH A FRIEND.
Call, text, or get online with someone you trust. Choose a friend who will be supportive and calm you down

PUT ON THE OTHER PERSON'S SHOES.
It can be hard to tell what people mean online. A comment you see as an insult may have been meant as a joke.

THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.
Some teens have gotten detention, been suspended, and in a few cases even been arrested for things they said online.

ASK TRUSTED ADULTS FOR HELP.
They may be able to give you good advice about how to deal with your feelings and help you talk calmly with the other person.

We will be featuring videos from NetSmartz this month to help get the conversation started about bullying/cyberbullying. Stay tuned!