How can you Prevent your Child from being Cyberbullied?

What is cyberbullying? Dr. Sameer Hinduja and Dr. Justin W. Patchin of the Cyberbullying Research Center state that cyberbullying is “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” They also state that “Basically, we are referring to incidents where adolescents use technology, usually computers or cell phones, to harass, threaten, humiliate, or otherwise hassle their peers.” How can we protect our children from being cyberbullied without making them feel that we are not respecting their independent right to go on the Internet?

I know that we have discussed the importance of helping your child to become independent, but some things cross the line over into protecting your child and keeping him safe. This is true whether or not your child is in the elementary grades, in middle school or in high school. Do not think that because your child is so bright, that he cannot be caught up in what looks like an enticing environment in a chat room.

It is important that you show your child sites that are safe and especially, those that are dangerous. Explain to him that even though he is not actually meeting the people to whom he speaks in a chat room, that conversation can still be dangerous. Additionally, what is said and written online remains online, and cannot be erased. Be as specific as you can be without frightening your child. The most important issue is to be warm, nurturing and honest, while at the same time, respecting his right to use the Internet as he wishes. How do you know where your child is travelling on the Internet?

You have heard me discuss how vital it is to keep open and trusting communication between your child and yourself. If those lines of communication are indeed open, just ask your child what sites he visits on the Internet. If he shies away from telling you, then that is a sure sign that he may be going to sites that are questionable at least, and possibly dangerous.

You may want to supervise your child’s use of the Internet if he is in elementary school. If you feel that your middle school child is going to places on the Internet where he might be cyberbullied, then you may want to supervise his use of the Internet as well, until you feel secure in the knowledge that he understands the sites that he can use that are safe.

The very reputable site to which I referred in the first paragraph of this entry that researches cyberbullying is http://www.cyberbullying.us/ They have a blog that has an address of http://cyberbullying.us/blog/ Please check it out for accurate and research-based information about cyberbullying.