Cyberbulling: How to Prevent and Handle It
Linda Tomczak completes her final installment on helping parents supervise kids' engagement on the internet. CyberbullyingCyberbullying is a serious matter and has resulted in suicideTeens often feel helpless, and bullies can be relentless.If your teen is being bullied, be an ally; don’t expect them to deal with it alone.Prevention TipsLimit where your children post personal information and who can access itWhen dealing with a bully, avoid escalating the situation: Responding with hostility is likely to provoke a bully. If possible, ignore it.Change passwords, and if necessary, get a new email address.If on Facebook, report abuse, block user, and if you have accepted a bully’s friend request, unfriend them. Make sure settings are at maximum privacy to prevent future posts and limit access to personal information. Make sure you have not made personal information, like your phone number or email address, viewable. Adjust settings so you must approve anything posted on your timeline. Take screen shots of abusive posts, then hide from timeline.Document bullying: Keep a record of any online activity (emails, web pages, social media posts, etc.), including relevant dates and times. Keep both an electronic version and a printed copy.Report bullying to the appropriate authorities: If you or your child are being harassed or threatened, report the activity to the local authorities—police department or FBI branch—as well as school officials if it involves one or more students.Do not be a bully yourself. Do not post or forward anything you would not want posted about you.Signs your child may be a victim of cyberbullyingHe/she tenses up when the phone rings, or a text message appearsHe/she lets the phone go unanswered, or sees the number the call is coming from and ignores or refuses the callRepeated calls from the same numberFor EducatorsEstablish a school bullying policy and inform the student body via an assembly. Communicate that the matter will be taken seriously.Appeal to the bystanders—those not involved in the bullying—to not condone or forward abusive items.Post positive reminders of proper Internet behaviorImmediately and publicly enforce offenses.Set up an anonymous reporting system that is monitored daily, as students may be receiving threats and unable to confide in parents. Useful Resourceswww.esrb.org/about/onlinesafety.jspLinks to multiple useful sites; great resource for anyone, especially parents www.onguardonline.govGreat resources for all topics regarding Internet safety, what to do if your email is hacked, etc. stopthinkconnect.org/resourcesLarge variety of free tip sheets you can download, addressing a variety of topics, including gaming, cyberbullying, mobile device safety; some for parents; some for teens Includes Internet safety-tip posters teachers can download and printwww.facebook.com/help/privacy/basic-controls How to set Facebook privacy controlswww.commonsensemedia.orgReviews and rates media, including videos, games, apps, websitesGreat resources for parents and educatorsRecommends family-friendly media and warns against items that put children in jeopardy Excellent blog and lots of resourceswww.fightthenewdrug.orgExcellent way to discuss porn with teensAddresses porn use with the upcoming generationopendns.comFree for home useAdjustable levels of filteringApplies controls to all Internet devices in the home, including gaming consoles, iPads, and phonesAllows you to monitor websites visited, and block inappropriate ones, even edit the message that will appear on the screen when a child tries to access that page, so you can tell them why you have denied them access to itYour child can email you back from that message and explain why they need to get on that site, and you can adjust your filtering if you agree.This software is used by about than 1 in 3 US public schoolshttp://www.netsmartz.orgVideos and games for children, tweens, and teens, teaching how to use the Internet wisely, and risks of not doing soTopic buttons are great resource for parents, containing tips and discussion-starter questionswww.gwennetwork.orgFree app for iPhone and androidChoose five people to be in your Gwen network. They will receive a text asking them to accept.If you are abducted or in danger, set off an alert, and it will immediately text your network and send them a message with your GPS coordinates.www.fcps.edu/it/fairfaxnetwork/traffickingProduced by Fairfax County, VA, this recent, well-made video includes interviews with law enforcement, social workers, educators, victims, and former traffickers, to enlighten parents, teachers, and students of the tactics of sex traffickers.Individual segments can also be downloaded for free on iTunes, and DVD can be ordered for $5Fairfax County, a wealthy community, has one of the highest rates of teenage sex trafficking by gangs in the US.One gang created a false Facebook profile and solicited over 800 teen girls online. Not one of the girls reported it.Very informative; every parent, school administrator, and teacher should watch this.www.secureteen.comFree safe browser for phones, iPadProtects kids from unsafe sites and predators and limits their screen time.Paid level allows parents to monitor their children’s Internet activitySite also has parenting tips