Cyberbullying

Bullying has made its way from the schoolyard to just about any place your child might be. With the expanding social media outlets, the ease of access to the Internet bullying can follow our kids everywhere, and it’s much harder now to report than running and telling a teacher.
While most people have heard of cyber bullying, we may not know what it looks like, how we can help, or how it affects our kids. Educating our kids is key, and knowing the school policy on bullying as well as the law can help you stay on top of this growing epidemic. The website, cyberbullying.us defines cyber bullying as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text.
As parents, teachers and caregivers we need to be aware of the social media outlets with which our children are involved. A few of the most common social media sites are Facebook, Google+, and twitter. This issue is not limited to just the Internet, but it has taken to text message as well. Both the Internet and text messaging allow ways to send both signed and anonymous messages. If your child has or is being bullied there may be some detective work that needs to be done.
What can you do?
If your child is being bullied, get as much information as you can as quickly as possible. Some of this information you can have on hand. You should have things like your Internet Service Providers (ISP) phone number, off line work hours, and hours they are closed. Cyber bullying can quickly escalate once third parties; such as hate groups get involved.
This is harming our kids! Statistics show that nearly half of all American teens have been bullied through electronic means. Kids who are being bullied through social media, web sites and online gaming are more likely to be show signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, be lonely and have poor sleep patterns. Because kids and teens are afraid of more bullying they often take a passive attitude about the bullying and do not tell anyone. Statistics show 41% of teens that have been cyber bullied did not tell anyone in their off-screen lives about the bullying. However 31% told an online friend.
Cyber bullying does not just affect social aspects of our children’s lives. These kids tend to become quieter in class and isolate themselves from people at school. Kids that have been bullied typically appear less confident than before the bullying started.
If they don’t tell, how do we know?
The easiest way to tell is to look for changes in your child’s behavior. Is your child more avoidant of things they use to love? Are they sleeping more or less than normal? Do they no longer hang out with peers? Be proactive. Ask about their online lives, from gaming to social media. While kids and teens may take a passive stance on bullying, it is important that we do not! Send your kid a facebook friend request, or have the “cool” aunt send them a friend request. Follow them on twitter, read their blog, sit down with them and play some xbox live or other online gaming system with them. Most importantly, TALK! Communication and relationship building is the key to knowing if your child is bullying or being bullied.