How to Deal With Cyber-Bullying

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Tips for Dealing With Cyber-Bullying

Cyber-bullying is an unfortunate, common complaint these days especially among younger internet users including pre-teens and teenagers. With such a large amount of internet users, some are finding themselves the victim of bullying whether it be through harassing emails, instant messages or through the use of social networking sites. There are ways to stop cyber-bullying and help prevent it from happening again. Here are some helpful tips.

Block the User

One of the first steps to ending cyber-bullying is to ignore the actions and block the user. When the bully is given attention it only encourages their actions. Start by blocking the user in all ways. Block all known email addresses, instant messengers and if necessary, through social networking sites. For parents who are trying to help their kids against cyber-bullying, if they find the bully has gone to extreme lengths such as making a website mocking the child or using forums to discuss the child in a negative manner or even going on to physically threaten the child, it is a good idea to contact the forum moderator or site owner and request the posts and information be taken down.

Contact the Authorities

In extreme cases where there are major threats being taken or the internet user is being stalked through the internet it is then a good idea to turn to the authorities. Be sure to save all emails, instant messages or posts the user has made. There are specific laws that deal with cyber-bullying and it is taken very seriously these days. Contacting the authorities can help end it quickly.

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What Teachers Can Do About Cyber-Bullying

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Many kids are experiencing cyber-bullying now that there is more access to the internet. In some areas, there are even technology classrooms, that allow for students to get online while they are in class and they can visit various websites as well as email each other. When it comes to being safe online, there are many things that need to be considered. Most people think about the inappropriate media that children should not see, and protect them from contacting strangers online, but often, many forget that there are ways that those that you know can also cause emotional and sometimes even result in physical harm.

Cyber-bullying is common online. As a teacher, you can be aware of what is happening in the classroom and create an atmosphere where your students feel that they can come and talk to you about anything that they are experiencing. Talking openly about cyber bullying and why it is not OK would also be helpful to many students. When the standard is clearly set, it is much easier for students to know that is expected as well as for those experiencing bullying to feel that they can come forward and talk about it.

Cyber-bullying is very serious. There has been an increase in the number of children who have taken their own lives because they felt that there was no way out, no way to avoid the bullying that they were experiencing.

As a teacher you have great influence on your students, and by simply talking to them about it, you can make a difference.

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Tips for Avoiding a Cyberbully

With technology being such a dominant force in the lives of just about everybody these days, there’s no surprise that bullying has taken on a technological form as well—cyberbullying. There’s really no difference between this and regular bullying, other than the fact that cyberbullying is committed via the Internet or other electronic device such as through a mobile phone via text message.

While cyberbullying seems to be more common and much easier these days, both forms of bullying are dangerous and can have very negative effects if the situation isn’t handled in a timely manner. It may be difficult to avoid being a victim of bullying, whether it’s face-to-face or on the Internet, but there are some simple steps your child can follow to avoid getting mixed up with a cyberbully.

  • One of the best ways to avoid someone who is bullying you via the Internet or other technological means, is to ignore them. Delete the email, text message or wall post.  Block his or her email address, phone number, and block them in any other way possible.
  • Never respond to any harassing messages you may receive. Replying may just give the bully more reasons to attack you. A reply also shows the bully that he or she has affected you. Don’t give him or her that satisfaction.
  • If any of the messages are particularly threatening (if they’re threatening your life or the lives of loved ones, for example), don’t be afraid to save and/or print these communications and take them to the local authorities. Harassment charges can be brought against the cyberbully if you want them to be.
  • Remember that bullies thrive on your responses, emotional or physical, to what they’ve said or done to you. Ignore them at all costs and never give them the satisfaction of seeing you hurt or rattled.
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How to Keep Your Child from Cyberbullying

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Cyberbullying is a very real problem for many kids in schools all over the United States. It’s grown increasingly worse over the past few years with all of the new technological advances in smartphones and mobile tablets. The worst instance may have been in October of 2010 when four teens from the same high school in Ohio committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying that went undetected and unresolved.

While most parents worry about their child being a victim, few think that their child could end up being the bully. It’s a very real possibility, though many parents refuse to even entertain the idea. In some cases, those who know their child is a bully don’t do anything about it, passing off the acts as “something that every kid does.”

That’s not the case because it isn’t, every parent should be aware of cyberbullying and the effects it can have on children, victims and bullies. As a responsible parent, your job is to make sure your child steers clear of becoming a cyberbully. There are numerous ways you can do this.

  • Talk to your kids about cyberbullying. Make sure they know what it is, how often it exists, and how detrimental it can be to the other kids who end up being victims.
  • Discuss social network use with your kids. While you can’t always keep your kids from participating in social networks, you can teach them that the things they write and post can be harmful to others. Make sure they know about expressionless communication and how it can be taken out of context.
  • Make it a point to talk to your kids about peer-pressure. Kids are very impressionable. Make sure they know that their friends behavior does not have to affect their own.
  • Explain how being a cyberbully can affect your child’s future. Depending on the consequences of your child’s actions, much can be affected. College admission and employment are just two items.
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Being alert on cyber bullying

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Social networks have become an indispensable part of people’s lives these days. It has left no age group untouched from its influence. Be it people of 60 and above or the young school attending teenagers. All at some level are affected from the social networking sites and the internet. People have almost forgotten the difference between the real and the virtual world of relationships. The real relationships have taken a back seat and the virtual one’s having become the reality of lives. The social networking sites are sure bliss to few as it helps in finding long lost friends being in touch with people who we do not meet in daily basis. But this bliss even has brought in a curse with it. Few miscreants gang up on these sites and cause humiliation to other people. The virtual platform provides them with animosity and security from being caught. These people form gangs and bully people they do not like or even bully people just like that for fun. Therefore at certain level monitoring and censorship is required by the parents and the school authorities. Things have changed a lot in this complex world of internet and cyber crimes. Cyber bullying and humiliation have become very common these days on the social networking sites. For instance a group of students who want to bully a class mate upload funny and embarrassing pictures on the web portal which is easily accessible to all the classmates. This causes public embarrassment to the victim. There have been instances of students using abusive language about the teachers they do not like on these public platforms. These miscreants can only be stopped if the parents and school authorities keep a close eye on the networking gangs and cyber bullying. The schools should be aware of the dangers these bullies can cause to the reputation of the school. The awareness of the dangers helps the authorities to fight it.

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Deal with Cyber Bullying

You are on Facebook. You receive a menacing private message. Your wall massacred with threatening messages. When you decide to go on chat, you’re interrupted by a rude message.

This isn’t an example of cyber stalking. In fact, doesn’t the above example sound like a restraining order waiting to happen? Unfortunately, this is an example of cyber bullying, a terrifying trend that a growing number of children deal with. Just a few years ago, bullying was limited to the end of a child’s school day. Today, children are dealing with a new type of bullying that may attack their minds all day and all night. You may have heard the burdening after effects of cyber bullying. At its very worst it can lead to suicide.

How can you help your child deal with cyber bullying?

Talk to Your Child
First, have a sit down talk with your child about bullying. Many children don’t talk about bullying to their parents because they are too embarrassed or they feel like they can handle it all on their own. If your child doesn’t talk about cyber bullying after being asked, there is still a distinct chance that your child is dealing with online bullying at its very worst. So, be open to still talking about the dangers and offering solutions to cyber bullying because it doesn’t hurt to offer advice or have a nice talk with your child.

Offer Solutions
Let your child know that there is a solution to every problem. This will also help your child’s own problem solving skills. Begin by letting your child know that blocking is an available option on social networking sites. Also, you can explain to your child that creating a new profile is an option. You can also tell your child that it may be a healthy start to take a break from social networking sites and support him or her in a fun new activity, such as team sports.

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