Cyberbullying involves harassing, demeaning, embarrassing or threatening behavior between minors through technology such as email, texting, instant messages, chat rooms and more. Cyberbullying situations involve several incidents and are perpetuated when others join in or pass on photos, texts or emails. Nancy E. Willard, author of "Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens," suggests that parents and children be prepared and take quick action when it happens.
Respect
As a parent, you must teach your children the importance of keeping a good online reputation and how inappropriate behavior online can cause them to lose their Internet accounts. Talk with children frequently about respectful behavior and teach them to stand up to and report any kind of bullying they experience or observe. Emphasize that if a situation feels uncomfortable, you need to be notified right away.
Prevention
The National Crime Prevention Council emphasizes prevention through privacy by teaching children to keep all personal information--and that of their friends and family--off of the Internet, share passwords only with their parents, and "never meet anyone face-to-face whom [they] only know online." Limiting computer use to high traffic areas in the home and having regular conversations about what your children are doing online also keeps you up to date on your children's Internet activities.
Be Supportive
Take cyberbullying seriously. Parents may not really understand cyberbullying, having never experienced it themselves, and may have a tendency to overreact or underreact. Be clear with your children that they will not be punished if someone is bullying them online. Acknowledging your children's fears and anxieties is an important first step in supporting them.
Monitoring Software
Purchase monitoring software that will save all messages, website visits and other evidence that may be needed to prove a case of cyberbullying. Spectorsoft is an option for parents suggested by Stopcyberbullying.org. Willard recommends caution and communication when using these programs, though, as children may feel parents do not trust them.
Assess the Threat
To determine what steps to take, assess the cyberbullying threat level in two ways. First, determine if your child is physically at risk based on the bullying information. Second, assess your child's emotional response to the threats. Your response should match the intensity of the threat level and the child's response. Cyberbullying can quickly get out of control without intervention. Suicides and homicides have occurred as a result.
Significant Threats
If you determine that your child has been physically threatened or uncover evidence of predator behaviors, contact the police right away. Print outs of cyberbullying messages are useful in initial reports, but it is also critical to save all electronic communications for further investigation by law enforcement.
Block Contact
For cyberbullying incidents that do not involve threats, your child should block further messages from the perpetrator. Contacting the bully's parents or seeking support from school personnel are additional options for parents.
