Cyberbullying on the Rise

SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

Cyberbullying takes many different forms and affects many children. Know the ways to spot different kinds of cyberbullying and how to talk with your child about it.

TODAY’S TOPIC

Cyberbullying on the Rise

When you hear the word “bully,” what image comes to mind? Maybe one of the classic bullies from movies and TV shows? Maybe a person you remember as a bully from your days in school? Kids today might think of a specific username or profile when they hear the word, perhaps someone they have never even met. Cyberbullies can cast large shadows from behind their keyboards, making both school and online environments hostile for your child. 

The Pew Research Center conducted a study on cyberbullying that shows about 50% of teens experience cyberbullying in some form or another. From name-calling and rumors to harassment and non-consensual image sharing, cyberbullies today use technology to intimidate and humiliate their peers at an alarming rate. Using Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, cyberbullies at schools have built a culture of planning and recording school fights for likes on these platforms. Hurtful comments on these platforms from users inside and outside of the school community add insult to injury.

In some instances, cyberbullying can be so relentless that victims take their own lives to escape it. The National Institute of Health discovered that adolescents experiencing cyberbullying are more than four times as likely to have suicidal thoughts. This is especially dangerous because cyberbullying can be difficult to notice if your child does not directly share that it is happening to them.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

As a parent, what can you do? It’s important to remember your community resources when it comes to cyberbullying. If your child is experiencing cyberbullying from a school peer, your school administration can hold the cyberbully accountable and help to monitor your child’s behavior and mental health while at school. If the cyberbully is not someone the student knows in person, they should block and report the account. 

When cyberbullying occurs in the comment section of your child’s post, consider taking the post down or restricting comments through the platform’s setting options. Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook all provide options to limit comments users can make on your child’s posts. 

 Because cyberbullying takes so many different forms, it can be difficult finding the best solution for a unique instance of cyberbullying. The Cyberbullying Research Center provides a variety of resources for parents and kids on identifying and managing cyberbullying. Below are some general tips for your child if you suspect they are being cyberbullied:

• Pay no mind to faceless haters: If an account you don’t know posts hurtful or harassing comments on your posts, block and report the account. More often than not, accounts like these are bots meant to get your attention by rage-baiting. Many social media platforms drive engagement by instigating feelings of anger in users, but there is no need to let rage-bait take you out of your character. 

• When your peers take it too far, ask them to stop: Often cyberbullying can arise from what began as jokes between peers or even friends. It’s important to set honest boundaries with your friends and peers when they take the joke too far. If they don’t respect your boundaries, they are not your friend. 

• Seek help from school administrators and your parents if it continues: When setting boundaries does not help, it’s time to get your support involved. If this is occurring at school, talk with your administrators about finding a resolution. They can help hold school peers accountable by initiating conversations between parents and students.

▶ Slang Word of the Week: “Rage-bait” – v. to say or do something with the intention of making another person angry.