Cyberbullying

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/cyberbullying.html

Reviewed by Michelle New, PhD        

This article states that bullying has found a new platform, as another form of social media—cyberbullying.  It discusses the very definition, background evidence, and most importantly—the signs that your child might be a victim of cyberbullying.

 

            What does Cyberbullying mean?  It is the use of technology, through social media platforms, to harass, threaten, embarrass, or victimize another person.  It is addictive, where both by the victim and the bully, and often the roles can become “muddied” when the victim turns his or her anger against the bully.  Parents and adults cannot easily monitor these horrific actions because there are many instances where the bully is often pretending to be someone the child might know or might remain anonymous, just to hurt the other person.  A 2006 study showed that 1 in 3 teens and 1 in 6 preteens were actually victims of cyberbullying.  I can only believe that those figures have increased.

The signs that a child is being victimized by cyberbullying:

·        Mood changes after being on the Internet

·        Secretiveness

·        Withdrawn

·        Bad grades

·        Bad mood

·        Changes in physical appearance and self-care

·        Changes in daily activities

What parents (adults) can do to help:

·        Listen

·        Block the websites/bully

·        Limit access to the Internet

·        Know what your child is doing online

·        Look for support

In the conclusion of this article, the approach is to also address the parent’s of the bully responsibilities, which I find interesting.  One of the top recommendations is to seek counseling to assist the child in “coping with anger, hurt, frustration, and other strong emotions in a healthy way.”