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How to protect a child from cyberbullying
15.02.2024
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying (from English cyber — related to computers, the internet; bullying — harassment) is the harassment of someone on the internet. One person or a group of people unite against another person and systematically bully them, using the internet and social networks. In defining any kind of harassment, including cyberbullying, consistency is important: a person is considered a victim if they are subjected to attacks over a period of time, that is, bullying occurs constantly.
What can be considered cyberbullying?
1) Writing offensive comments under photos and publications;
2) Sending messages of a threatening, immoral, humiliating and offensive nature;
3) Creating chats or entire communities on social networks dedicated to bullying a certain person;
4) Spreading slander to incite hatred, ruin a person's reputation and force people not involved in the bullying to join in;
5) Creating fake profiles and spreading information that defames a person's dignity; and more.
Both adults and teenagers can become victims of cyberbullying. This type of bullying should not be underestimated: even if the attacks only happen online (although often real-life bullying can be associated with online bullying as well), they still have a strong impact on a person's mental health and can lead to suicide.
Signs that a child has become a victim of cyberbullying
1) Withdrawal, isolation, avoiding usual activities. For example, the child started spending less time on social networks and generally picking up the phone or going to the computer. Another alarming sign is the loss of social circle.
2) Decreased self-esteem, anxiety, restlessness. It may become more difficult for the child to concentrate and learn new things.
3) Loss of appetite and insomnia.
4) Tears, depression, constant bad mood.
How to protect a child from cyberbullying?
The most important thing a parent needs to explain to their child is that the child is not to blame for the bullying. There are no objective reasons for bullying: children can be bullied for doing too well in school or too poorly, for being too quiet, for being too poorly dressed, for their parents being divorced, for being adopted, and much more. In a cultured and educated society, none of this makes a child a bad person or proves that they deserve to be bullied. Therefore, it is very difficult to prevent bullying, as bullies can choose anyone as their victim. However, it is possible to effectively deal with the consequences and stop cyberbullying in its tracks.
First, make sure to collect all the evidence: take screenshots and save voice messages, if any.
Second, add the offenders to the blacklist and report their profiles. If lucky, the social network may permanently ban the bullies' accounts.
Third, if necessary, suggest that the child take a break from social media for a while to recover.
Fourth, if cyberbullying was accompanied by bullying in reality, for example, at school, contact the class teacher or principal with the evidence and make sure they take action. If necessary, do not hesitate to transfer the child to a new school.
Fifth, take the child to a psychologist who deals with cases of bullying.
Most importantly, do not ignore what has happened. Do not advise the child to "just ignore it": such a reaction to bullying, on the contrary, only encourages the offenders. Sometimes it is enough to fight back just once, and the bullies will be afraid to continue bullying the child.
If you have any remaining questions about children's safety on the internet, use the information posted on our website!
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