Stop Cyber bullying 💪🏻

 

    Kids can feel powerless and trapped by threats from cyberbullies. In fact, a common tactic of bullies is to threaten harm to loved ones if their behavior is reported. Also, in many cultures, “tattling” or “ratting” out someone’s bad behavior is seen as “dishonorable” and can incur heavy social penalties. With these types of powerful forces at work, it takes a lot of courage for a child or a teen to admit they're being cyberbullied.

- Don't respond to any form of cyberbullying. Bullies are often craving attention and can back down if ignored.

- Talk to an adult you trust like your parents, your school principal or guidance counselor, or another grown-up. The best defense against the demand for secrecy is sharing the secret with someone who has more power than the bully.

- Keep an offline diary. Print emails, take screenshots of text or social media messages, and take notes about the days, times, and people involved in the bullying incidents. If you don't know their real name, note the fake names they use.

- Block or mute cyberbullies. Most social platforms, online forums, and mobile devices have methods for blocking unwanted messages. Blocking is the best option but if you're afraid of retaliation, muting can be a good strategy. Muting protects you from seeing their messages but, unlike blocking, a muted person usually doesn't know they've been muted. If you don't know how to block and mute, ask an adult.

- Put down your devices. Spending less time on the internet gives you more time to make friends and have fun away from people who are hurtful.

   How to Prevent or Stop Cyberbullying

    Protecting your child from cyberbullying requires vigilance on the part of parents and caregivers, but kids can help their friends too. Here are some prevention strategies everyone can use — including time-tested anti-bullying methods and recommendations for helpful technologies.

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

Even if you don't think your child is being bullied online, talking to them about the subject is a great first step. Discuss what cyberbullying is.

- Ask if they know anyone who is or has been cyberbullied.

- Discuss what your child should do if they notice someone being bullied online.

- Encourage your child to tell you or someone else they trust if they receive a threatening message.

- Reassure them that they won't be in trouble for this and won't have their cell phone or computer confiscated.

React to Cyberbullying in the Right Way

Finding out that your child has been bullied is incredibly difficult. However, the way you react to this knowledge is incredibly important.

- Don't overreact. Don't berate them for not telling you sooner.

- Be understanding and supportive. Work together to resolve the situation and reinforce the idea that you and your child are a team.

- Emphasize that your child isn't to blame if they've been bullied.

- Don't underreact. Don’t tell your child to “just deal with it.” Take what they say seriously.

- Never tease them about being bullied and don't dismiss their experiences.

Document Cyberbullying Incidents 

If your child is being cyberbullied, it’s important to document and report every incident. In addition to taking the steps above, you should:

- Save threats and document them, including threatening texts, sexually explicit pictures, or harassing messages

- Report incidents of cyberbullying to the website used, the cell phone company, and the ISP involved.

- Block the bully's mobile number or email address on your child's devices. Consider blocking the website that's being used to commit the cyberbullying.

- Contact the school or parents of the bully, if you can identify them. However, always check with your child first to gauge their comfort level with contacting the parties involved.

Build a Positive Environment

- Cyberbullying victims often feel demoralized, alone, and afraid. It’s crucial that parents and caregivers help kids restore their self-esteem and regain a positive perspective.

- Each child is different in how they want to respond to difficult situations. Some kids may want to stand up to the bully while others may not. Regardless of how your child reacts, it's important to support them as they heal so you can reach a positive outcome

- School staff can do a lot to help prevent cyberbullying. Teachers can work with parents via meetings, the school's website and forums, or newsletters to encourage parents to discuss cyberbullying.