During this year’s Anti-Bullying Week we’re helping parents get smart about cyberbullying.
With resources, articles, and downloadable guides, we’ve got all you need to help you understand what to do if you find out your child is being cyberbullied or is cyberbullying someone else.
Cyberbullying is when someone bullies another person over the internet or mobile phone, usually either publicly via message or social media.
Common ways of cyberbullying are text stalking, trolling, email abuse with fake emails, public sharing of images without permission, interactive gaming bullying.
Use these ‘Internet Manners’ with your child to make the internet a safer place to be:
Treat others as you would like to be treated online
If you wouldn’t say it to someone in person, don’t say it online
Respect other people’s online privacy
Don’t make an online situation worse by provoking people
Don’t spread rumours or spread gossip about someone online
Our comic strip competition challenges children to think about what to do if they see others being cyberbullied.
The top prize includes a day filming in the Sky Academy Skills Studio for the winner and their class.
Talking with your child about being cyberbullied can be difficult for both you and your child.
But communication is important so that they know that there are ways of dealing with the problems. Some strategies include:
No parent wants to think of their child bullying someone else. But young people who may have never bullied before can get drawn into cyberbullying, sometimes without realising it.
Look out for the following:
If you find out or suspect your child is a cyberbully, talking with them about it can be an effective first step in dealing with it.
Listening, reinforcing positive behaviour, and sharing your concerns with them can help influence their behaviour in a positive way.
By Lauren Seager-Smith