What To Do About Cyber Bullies
The days when a child’s home was a refuge from playground or neighborhood bullies is over. The Internet is the new playground, and there are no off hours. The popularity of instant messaging, e-mail, web pages, and blogging means that your children and grandchildren are potential targets—all day, every day.
On the Internet, as on any playground, some people play nice, and some don't. Both children and adults may use the Internet to harass or intimidate other people. As in the real world, bullying can range from name calling to physical threats. For example, kids sometimes broadcast bullying comments and embarrassing images in an instant message or blog, shaming a child in a way that's largely invisible to others. A survey conducted by i-SAFE America found that 58 percent of children surveyed had not told their parents, or any adult, about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
You and your kids can help stop cyber bullies. First, tell your children or grandchildren they do not have to accept any online activity that is meant to intimidate, threaten, tease or harm them or anyone else. Giving bullies attention is exactly what they want, so ignore them as much as possible. Teach kids that if they encounter a bully online, they should:
- Tell a trusted adult, and keep telling them until they take action.
- Never open, read or respond to messages from cyber bullies.
- Keep messages from bullies; they may be needed to take action.
- Use software to block bullies if they encounter them through chat or IM.
Make sure you notify the children’s school if the bullying is school related or involves another student. All schools have bullying solutions. If you or anyone in your family are threatened with harm, contact your local police.
