Cyberbullying - Tips for Parents on how to protect kids online
Bullying of any type is bad enough, but cyberbullying - when someone uses the internet or mobile phone to bully others - can be particularly distressing for the person on the receiving end.
Latest research tells us that as many as 1 in 3 children may have been victims of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying can take a range of different forms, such as receiving nasty or threatening text messages on a mobile, instant messaging, in a chatroom, or someone posting humiliating images or messages on a social networking or video sharing website.
Here are five things you can do to protect your child or teen:
1. Be aware, your child may as likely cyberbully as be a target of cyberbullying. Be alert to your child seeming upset after using the internet or mobile phone.
2. Get involved. Talk to your children and understand the ways they are using the internet and mobile phone.
3. Learn how to use the safety tools on the service. Most services have block or ignore buttons, privacy settings, and some allow the recording of online messaging.
4. Remind your child not to reply to bullying messages, at least not in anger.
5. Keep the evidence of offending emails, text, online postings or conversations.
This was extracted from KnowITall for parents, a website created by Childnet International. More advice and information can be found at www.childnet.com
Pink Shirt Day is a Boys & Girls Club initiative that raises awareness about bullying and its negative affects. You can find out more about Pink Shirt Day and purchase a pink shirt here.