Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words can by no means hurt me.”

In this day and age, this phrase is missing its meaning because words have had serious effects on children and mostly all age groups.

Just when people thought bullying couldn’t get any inferior, the world gave them social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

The dawn of social media sites provided bullies with a modern or innovative way to trouble their targets – Cyberbullying.

Cyberbullies become a victim through their smartphones, instant messaging, and other forms of communication technology.

Pro Tip-However, counselors, and schools can prevent the happening of cyberbullying by adopting a school improvement program into their curriculum.

Read on to know the types of cyberbullying and how to prevent them

What is CyberBullying?

Cyberbullying is the bullying or harassment executed through digital devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

The platforms where cyberbullying can occur include, chat rooms, social media, and gaming platforms where people can participate and view in the sharing of content. It comprises sending or sharing negative, nasty, or false information about another individual for causing humiliation.

Different Types of CyberBullying

  • Creating a nasty or fake webpage about another individual.
  • Posting hurtful, or humiliating comments or rumors about an individual online.
  • Publishing an embarrassing or video or photo.
  • Posting online threats provoking an individual to kill themselves or hurt someone else.
  • Triggering religious, political, racial, ethnic, anger online by posting hate comments or content.
  • Faking an identity online to ask for fake or personal information about someone.

Prevent Cyber Bullying

Be Aware of Your Child’s Online Activities. In this era of digital advancements, children are growing up with technology at the palm of their hands.

Thus, various types of cyberbullying have become a household episode. Teenagers and adolescents are more at risk of cyberbullying as they have a partial understanding of the good and the bad.

As a parent or elder, it is your sole responsibility to be aware of your child’s online activities to avert cyberbullying. Be mindful of the apps and digital media that your child is using. You must ensure that your child engages more in offline activities than an addiction to online gaming, computers, and smartphones.

Watch out for These Indications/Signs

The following are some signs that your an individual is being cyberbullied or is cyberbullying others.

Significant increase or decrease in your child’s usage of a mobile, tablet, or laptop.

Exhibiting emotional responses such as sadness, happiness, or anger to the activities on their device

The tendency to ignore discussion on their online activities

  • Hiding of the device or screen when people are around.
  • Lack of interest in gatherings, social 
  • Sudden deactivation of personal social media accounts or signing in of a new ones
  • Becoming depressed and introvert.
  • Steps to Take in the Aftermath.

If you observe any of the abovementioned warning signs, it may indicate your dear one’s involvement in some form of cyberbullying.

In the unfortunate incident of your child experiencing cyberbullying, you must take quick steps to demonstrate your support as well as report cyberbullying.

Following are some of the things that you can do in case your child, kin, or friend is a victim of cyberbullying.

Observe

Note if there is any abnormal change in the mood or behavior. Try to self-investigate the reasons and note down if these changes frequently take place during the use of digital devices.

Conversation

Don’t try to sound too demanding or interfering but kindly engage them in a conversation. Take him/her into assurance/confidence and try to understand what is happening, when it all began and who are all involved?

Record

Try to maintain a track or record of online activities. Take screenshots of any harmful or offensive content or post. In any case, proof of online activities is mandatory when reporting cyberbullying.

Report

Nearly all social media platforms have clear guidelines in place to report cyberbullying. Social media platforms can help you out in having the offensive post removed.

Support

Recovering from the trauma of cyberbullying can be hard and in many cases, sometimes time-taking. In such cases, the victim requires guidance and support.

It could come from parents, family members, or teachers or peers. If required seek the help of a trained professional counselor.

Do you find your child to be too addicted or crankier to desktop or the smartphone? Has he/she become more limited and avoids being socialized.

As parents, it can be quite a matter of concern to notice these unnatural and sudden changes in their child’s behavior. Beware! Your child may be going through/experiencing one of the different types of cyberbullying.

Finally, Stand Together

It’s essential to stand together and look for long-term solutions to cyberbullying.

The points mentioned above can be a road map for future legislation keeping your kids safe on the Internet. Meanwhile, it’s imperative to understand your rights and escalate things to the proper authorities if they become out of hand. So Act Now, Stay Safe And Help Out Others To Be So!!