What Is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology to harass, humiliate, threaten, or intimidate someone. This may include sending hurtful messages, spreading rumors online, or sharing embarrassing photos or videos. Cyberbullying can occur on platforms like social media, gaming forums, and messaging forums. Cyberbullying can have severe and long-lasting physical and mental side effects on its victims. This is why cyberbullying prevention is so important.1
Types of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can take many forms, including:2
- Harassment: Repeatedly sending hurtful messages to someone.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else online to harass or embarrass others.
- Cyberstalking: Using technology to keep track of someone’s online presence or real-life location.
- Outing and Trickery: Sharing or manipulating personal information or photos to embarrass someone online.
- Exclusion and Isolation: Intentionally leaving someone out of online conversations or activities.
- Fraping: This is when someone has unauthorized access to another’s social media accounts and then posts or sends messages. Often, this content is designed to hurt the person who owns the social media accounts.
- Catfishing: Creating a fake online identity to deceive someone, typically to form a romantic or emotional connection.
Signs That Your Child is Being Bullied
Parents and educators need to be vigilant and proactive in addressing cyberbullying. It can have serious consequences for your child’s well-being and mental health.
Taking steps to prevent cyberbullying is an important part of keeping your child safe and aware of what to look out for.
Warning Signs
Your child may have been cyberbullied if they exhibit certain signs. Due to our reliance on technology now, it may be difficult to recognize some of these signs, but catching them can make a big difference in your child’s health.
Some signs include:
- Changes in behavior, such as increased anxiety, depression, or irritability
- Withdrawal from social activities, friends, or family
- Reluctance to use phone or computer
- Becoming more anxious when receiving messages or notifications
- Unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, or change in weight
- Decreased academic performance
- Becoming unusually secretive about their online activity or starting to act out of character
- Trouble sleeping or changes in eating habits
Cyberbullying Prevention Tips and Strategies
Cyberbullying can be a serious and harmful issue. However, there are steps that parents and kids can take for cyberbullying prevention. By being proactive and using the tools and resources available, you can help keep yourselves and others safe online.
Here are some cyberbullying prevention tips:3
Educate Kids about Cyberbullying
Help kids understand what cyberbullying is and how it can impact others. Also, talk to your child about what is inappropriate online behavior and set clear expectations for how they should treat others online.
If your child has been a victim of cyberbullying, these experiences can follow them far into their adulthood and may put them more at risk for mental health challenges and substance use disorders (SUD) later on. It’s important to teach children about the harms of cyberbullying and be aware of the signs that your child may be a victim as well.4
Encourage Positive Online Behavior
Emphasize the importance of being kind and respectful online. Encourage your child to use online platforms to spread positivity and kindness. Moreover, teach them to report any cyberbullying they witness.
Set Rules for Technology Use
Establish rules and guidelines for when and how your child can use technology. Consider limiting screen time and creating a tech-free zone in the home if needed as well.
Use Privacy Settings
Help your child understand how to use privacy settings on their social media accounts and teach them to control who can see their posts and personal information. It’s a good idea to encourage them to only connect with people they know and trust in real life.
Monitor Your Child’s Online Activity
Keep an eye on your child’s online activity and watch their social media accounts. Look for signs of cyberbullying or other negative behaviors and intervene if necessary.
Teach Your Child How to Respond to Cyberbullying
Another important tip for cyberbullying prevention is to help your child understand what to do if they experience cyberbullying. Encourage them to save any evidence of the bullying and to report it to a trusted adult. Help them understand that they should not respond to the bullying or retaliate.
Work With Schools and Community Organizations
Collaborate with your child’s school and community organizations to promote cyberbullying prevention and awareness, as well as to establish protocols for addressing it. Encourage schools to incorporate anti-bullying and cyberbullying prevention education into their curriculum.
Remember, the main issue lies not with technology but with the people who use it. Addressing and discussing the issues with your children is important instead of refraining them from using technology.
Knowing How to Respond to Cyberbullying
It is important to notice behavioral changes in your child and talk to them. If your child is the victim of cyberbullying, there are certain steps you can take to stop the bullying and provide support:5
- Document and save evidence of cyberbullying, like screenshots of messages or posts.
- Report the bullying to the social media platform or app where it is happening. Also, consider contacting law enforcement if the situation is serious.
- Seek support from your child’s school or community resources, such as a counselor or therapist.
Cyberbullying Prevention and Mental Health
Cyberbullying can affect mental health, particularly for young people who are still developing emotionally and socially. The anonymity and distance of online communication make cyberbullying pervasive and difficult to escape, which may lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Cyberbullied children may experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues as a result. They may also have trouble sleeping or lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Parents and educators must address these issues and seek support from mental health professionals if needed.
Find Help and Support for Cyberbullying Prevention at Horizon Treatment Services
At Horizon Treatment Services, we are invested in preventing addiction and its far-reaching impacts by speaking to youth and adolescents early on. It’s important to promote awareness of cyberbullying and its impact on mental health not only to parents and teachers, but to children as well. It’s important to us to be a leader and support system that kids and adults alike can lean on.
We understand the challenges of dealing with cyberbullying, so we strive to provide a compassionate and supportive space for individuals to seek help and guidance. Whether you are a victim of cyberbullying, a concerned parent, or a community member, we are here to provide the care and support you need to navigate this complex issue.
Creating a Safe Virtual and Physical Space for Children to Grow
Cyberbullying is a serious issue that can affect a child’s mental health and well-being. Parents and educators can help keep kids safe by taking steps for cyberbullying prevention. It is important to maintain communication and respond to incidents. Together, we can work toward creating a safer, more supportive online environment for all children.
Resources
1https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
2https://socialmediavictims.org/cyberbullying/types/
3https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-prevent-cyberbullying-5113808
4https://www.cmhnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/a249e196c7fe68ab784989ae15641296.pdf
