Have you ever texted or posted something online that you would never say to someone in person?
You’ve probably experienced how the internet’s anonymous nature can sometimes bring out the
worst in people. For bullies, the web’s faceless environment appeals to their desire to intimidate,
and this creates unsafe situations for their victims. Unfortunately, technology has enabled bullying
on a scale today that didn’t exist generations ago.
Even more than a few years ago, children today are online more every day, and they start their
online lives earlier and earlier. Cyberbullying is a growing problem across the world – the internet’s
anonymous nature is appealing to bullies’ desire to intimidate. There is also a speed factor –
rumors, threats, and photos can move around the digital world instantly.
All of us, parents, teachers, and school administrators, can work together to identify, prevent, and
stop cyberbullying. Here are our tips for making the internet a kinder place for
kids.
Help protect kids against cyberbullying with these tips:
Keep some secrets
Be careful who can access contact information or details about your children’s interests,
habits, or employment to reduce their exposure to bullies they do not know. Limiting
the information about them online may also limit their risk of becoming a victim and
make it easier to identify the bully if they are victimized.
Avoid escalating the situation
Depending on the circumstances, consider ignoring the issue. Bullies commonly thrive on
the reaction of their victims. Responding with hostility often provokes bullies. If you or your
child receives unwanted email messages, consider blocking the sender or changing
your email address. The problem may stop. If you continue to get messages at the new
account, you may have a compelling case for legal action.
Block and report on social media
If bullying occurs on social media, block the person from accessing all online platforms and email.
Report the incident to the social media platform.
Document cyberbullying
Keep a record of any online activity (e.g., emails, web pages, social media posts), including
relevant dates and times. Keep both an electronic version and a printed copy of each
document.
Report cyberbullying to the school
If you’ve taken reasonable measures to stop the bully and, despite that, it’s continuing or even
escalating, it might be time to report it to the authorities. Reach out to the victim’s school or
whoever heads the organization where the victim interacts with the cyberbullies, which might
be a club, sports team, place of worship, or extracurricular group. Nowadays, many school
districts have online reporting options for cyberbullying where you can make an anonymous
complaint.
When to call the police…
If contacting the victim’s school or youth organization doesn’t help, or if you fear for the
victim’s safety, contact your local police department. Your local FBI office can also be a good
starting point. Note that there is a distinction between free speech and punishable offenses.
Law enforcement officials and prosecutors can help sort out legal implications.
How to tell if a cyberbullying incident is a crime? Listen to your gut. If the communications
become more frequent, the threats more severe, the methods more dangerous and if third parties
– such as hate groups and sexually deviant groups – become involved, the more likely
law enforcement needs to be contacted and a legal process initiated.
Reprinted from the National Cybersecurity Alliance