What Every Parent Should Know About Cyberbullying and How to Respond
Bullying can affect our children’s childhood tremendously. It’s a worry for many parents, how to help and protect our kids from becoming victims of bullying. Today, with many kids socializing online, bullying also happens in the digital space. This brings new complexity to the issue, and leaves us with another worry. How can we protect our children from cyberbullying?
The online world brings new challenges to children's social lives. The internet is not only a place to explore, seek knowledge, and entertainment. As many kids get older, the digital world becomes a platform for their social lives as well. They connect with friends on social media, in games, and in chats. They are able to take part in online communities and interact with strangers.
Online communities and digital devices allow social ties to reach far and wide outside the regular social circles. This gives opportunities to connect with new or old friends across space. New friendships can arise based on unique hobbies or interests. This can be a blessing if you struggle to find friends in your area who share your interests.
Every parent hopes their child will be met with kindness and acceptance in both the real world and the online world. But both online and offline, kids risk bullies seeking them out as victims. This leaves parents with the question of what to do if their child is bullied. Likewise, how do you handle it if it happens online?
Bullying used to be restricted to physical places like school or the neighbourhood. Victims could escape and catch a break. This is not the case when bullying happens online. Today, bullies can reach their victims through their phones or computers. This leaves victims with no place to hide. Cyberbullying can follow a child everywhere. Every time a victim goes online, the bully can reach them. We might think that restricting online access is a solution. But this can only isolate the victim even more.
Online bullying will often be invisible to parents and teachers. It makes it harder to protect our children if there are no witnesses and we don’t know it’s going on. In the past, bullying was more visible to the people around the victim.
Another aspect of cyberbullying is that the bully can be anonymous, hiding their true identity. You can receive messages from anonymous senders or fake profiles, not knowing who is behind them. It can be especially scary and unsettling not to know who is harassing you. Before the Internet, there was rarely any doubt about who the bully was. Today, it can be a stranger who sought you out randomly or someone you thought to be your friend.
Our nightmare as parents is that we don’t know if our child is being bullied online. Studies show this is often the case since most kids don’t tell their parents. Many kids might feel like telling someone would make it worse. Some keep silent to avoid worrying or disappointing their parents. They might think the only solution is to ignore the harassment and endure, hoping it will pass.
This leaves parents with the questions of how to know if a child is bullied, and how to stop cyberbullying. The next question we need to ask ourselves is how to prevent it.
Parents often find solutions involving stricter screen time rules. Some might feel a need to monitor online activities closely to keep their kids safe.
Many of us don’t know what to ask to get our kids to talk about their experiences. Instead, we secretly try to find out what they are up to behind their backs or enforce stricter rules or parental controls.
This article focuses on understanding what cyberbullying is and how to deal with bullies. Join us in exploring solutions to cyberbullying. We also dive into strategies for preventing and responding to online bullying.
Understanding Cyberbullying
First of all, we need to understand what is considered cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone is repeatedly bullied online. It can happen on any device where communication is possible, like gaming consoles, computers, and phones. Here, users can communicate through chat or comments.
Common cyberbullying examples are bullying in the form of harassment or threats. For example, through mean words, emojis, or humiliating photos and videos shared without consent. The bully can reach the victim through group chats, private messages, or public comments. Sometimes bullying consists of starting hate groups on social media or websites where bullies share mean posts about the victim, or write about them in the comments or secret group chats.
Other types of cyberbullying can be cyberstalking and being excluded, or ignored on purpose. Cyberstalking is when the victim is never left in peace, constantly contacted, and unwillingly followed closely online. However, the opposite can be just as disturbing to the victim - being excluded or ignored by a group of peers.
Online exclusion can be not being invited to your friend group’s chat or having your messages ignored. It can also be not having your pictures liked or commented on social media, or not being tagged in posts with everyone else.
The main factor of bullying is that it’s intended to intimidate, exclude, or humiliate the victim. Research shows that being bullied is as painful as physical pain. It can also leave victims with lifelong emotional scars and trauma. This is why we must look out for our kids and help them if they become victims of bullying.
What is important to understand about cyberbullying and bullying in general is that it can happen to anyone. It is not a child’s fault if someone is bullying them or because something is “wrong” with them. While bullying may primarily affect children, & it will always be the adults’ responsibility to solve it.
Recognizing signs that your child might be experiencing cyberbullying
Many children do not openly share when they are being bullied online. This makes it crucial for parents to know how to recognize the signs of cyberbullying. This way, we can intervene before any situation escalates.
There are a few things we can look out for. For example, if our child suddenly becomes withdrawn from social activities. They can also become anxious when using their phone. Others may appear upset or unusually quiet after being online. Most kids will show unexplained changes in mood, appetite, or behavior when bullied.
That said, it can still be difficult to know if your child is being bullied. The best way to find out is to encourage them to open up and share with us. There are also some signs we can look out for. This could be:
- Avoiding school or social situations
- Unexplained drops in self-esteem and mood
- Mood swings, like anger or sadness
- Changes in appetite
- Drop in school performances
- Issues with sleep
- Complaints about peers
- Isolating themselves or becoming quieter
Any of these changes to our child’s well-being can be a sign that something is wrong. So being able to talk about things and having a trusting relationship is crucial for keeping them safe. This is why conversation is the best approach when parents want to keep their children safe and open up about cyberbullying.
Often our kids will drop hints about issues that bother them. They will usually give us the light version of the situation first to test our reaction. With the best intentions, many parents will tell them not to worry and assure them that these issues will pass. Instead, we can encourage them to tell us a bit more about it.
If we react with strong emotions or worry, kids might not want to share with us openly. Many kids might keep things to themselves to avoid upsetting their parents. Instead, we can take them seriously by reacting with curiosity and focusing on validating their feelings, not ours. We can encourage them to tell us more by asking follow-up questions about what they said.
The effects of cyberbullying on mental health
Online bullying or any other case of bullying should never be overlooked. We should keep in mind how cyberbullying affects children, and the consequences it could have.
The effects of cyberbullying can be severe. Cyberbullying and mental health are closely linked. Bullying can impact a child’s emotional well-being, self-esteem, and mental health. It can therefore affect their overall development and well-being if issues with cyberbullying aren't addressed.
Research shows strong correlations between cyberbullying and depression. Children who experience online bullying may feel anxious, depressed, or withdrawn. Cyberbullying effects can show up as difficulty concentrating in school or sleep disturbances. Some victims experience long-term emotional scars. In severe cases, victims may struggle with thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Because cyberbullying takes place online, it can feel worse to many kids than if it happened in a confined area like school. It can feel like you can’t escape or put it behind you. It might follow you even if you move or leave the school. What happens online never truly disappears. It might come back to haunt the victim, and new bullies can pick up where the old ones left off.
On top of this, it can feel like the whole world is against you or watching in silence. This gives many victims the feeling that the situation is hopeless, leaving them with no way out. No child should face these issues alone without support from adults.
Tragically, there are many cases of children ending their lives due to being bullied online and not receiving the help they needed. Recognizing issues with bullying and the impacts early is vital.
Building resilience in your child against bullying and cyberbullying
There is a lot we can do to build resilience against bullying. The support network around children experiencing cyberbullying is crucial for their well-being and resilience. Teaching kids how to deal with a bully, whether online or at school, can also help them feel empowered in a difficult situation.
For kids in general, and not just in cases of bullying, being surrounded by friends and family can be a great support. Feeling loved and supported will strengthen their self-worth and resilience. Positive and supportive online communities can also make a big difference in the life and well-being of a child experiencing bullying, making them feel that they are not alone.
It is nothing new that kids are bullying other kids. But we should never accept, dismiss, or turn a blind eye to bullying of any kind. When kids feel valued and supported, they are more resilient against the effects of bullying. They are also less likely to feel isolated and unloved.
When our kids feel like the whole world is against them, we need to help them see that it’s not the case and that life can be different. It also builds resilience to help children handle conflicts confidently and teach them how to stand up to a bully with our support. We can do this by giving them the tools on what to do if they are cyberbullied.
We should see resilience as more than an ability to endure the unbearable. Resilience also means having the courage to be vulnerable and knowing how to seek out support and ask for help. It's understanding that it’s not your fault you are being bullied, and trusting that adults will be there to help.
This is why adults and parents play a big part in building resilience in kids. Parents can focus on creating a strong relationship with their kids where they feel safe to share openly.
Having close connections and honest conversations has proven to be one of the best tools for keeping children safe online. Open conversations and trusting relationships are an essential part of digital parenting.
Preventing cyberbullying before it happens
In today’s connected world, kids are spending more time online, and with that comes the unfortunate risk of cyberbullying. While it’s important to address issues after they arise, preventing cyberbullying before it happens is key.
As parents, we can play a vital role in protecting our children by starting conversations about their online experiences, teaching them digital empathy, and encouraging them to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
By fostering trust, discussing safe online behavior, and setting a foundation of kindness, we can help our kids navigate the digital world with confidence and respect, before the problem starts.
Importance of active parenting in cyberbullying prevention
Proactive parenting plays a crucial role in cyberbullying prevention. Keeping our kids safe online is not always about restricting and controlling access. Those who are not allowed a phone or social media account at home might join their friends in checking out theirs. Eventually, they will go online, and then they will often be on their own. Keeping our kids safe online means starting conversations about their digital world.
The best thing we can do is talk with our kids about what they love to do online and what to be aware of. Most importantly, we need to talk about how to handle difficult situations. We should also make sure our kids feel safe to get help from adults. Talking about online experiences should be a regular part of our conversations.
This is why our parenting tips around how parents can prevent cyberbullying revolve around conversations. We can talk with our kids about what good online communication looks like. What is okay to write to someone and what is not? Then they will know to be respectful and kind towards others. And they will know when someone else is behaving in a way that is not okay.
Other ways to stop bullying include letting our kids know the importance of calling out bullying when they see it. We can talk with our kids about how to block or report bullying, and when to get help from an adult. Parents can then help kids create a safer online experience.
A dysfunctional pattern or a habit of bad language can quickly spread in comments and online groups. For many, it can be easier to say things a bit harder than intended when you hide behind a screen. Some kids use the screen as a way of experimenting with different roles and ways of acting, forgetting that it’s real people on the other end that will get hurt by their words. This is why it’s so important to talk about digital empathy with our kids.
Besides digital empathy, we can encourage kindness and responsible technology use by practicing consent. This reduces the risk of children becoming targets or engaging in harmful behavior themselves. Understanding how we can model consent for our kids can play a vital part in social media bullying prevention.
Encouraging open communication with your child
A strong parent-child relationship is one of the most effective tools to stop and prevent bullying. Research shows that children with a strong parent-relationship are less likely to become bullies. And having regular conversations about the good and bad online experiences will make it easier for kids to open up.
We encourage parents to be aware of the importance of trust between parent and child. We should regularly check in on our children’s online lives. We can, for example, do this by asking open-ended questions and listening with interest and without judgment.
We can make sure to have conversations about bullying before it happens. This could be conversations around what to do if your friend is bullied, or who you feel safe telling if it happened to you.
We know that many parents feel uncertain about how to talk to kids about cyberbullying. This is why we have created the Raising Digital Citizens conversation cards for families. We encourage you to check out this unique conversation tool. Our conversation cards provide essential guidance and plenty of communication tips for parents to help kids open up about their online lives.
Creating a non-judgmental environment for sharing
To truly support children, we must create a safe space for open discussions. Many kids will keep things to themselves either because they do not want to worry their parents or for fear of punishment. This can lead them to hide issues like cyberbullying.
When we stay calm and respond with curiosity and an interest in understanding their perspective, it helps children feel comfortable coming to us when they need help.
We are also responsible for setting the scene around this conversation. We should focus on making conversations cozy, letting it be a quality family time of bonding and learning together.
Promoting digital literacy in children
Our kids need to learn how to behave in the digital world as well as in the real world. Just as we teach good manners when interacting face-to-face, we must teach them the same online.
It’s not just teaching kids about online safety, it is equally important to teach them to be good people and critically assess online content. This way, they can recognize manipulation or inappropriate behavior online and know what to do about it.
Utilizing parental control software
Parental controls are useful for setting age-appropriate limits on apps and online interactions, such as filtering content or managing options for interacting with strangers. They can also be used for restricting the downloading of apps, or making online purchases, etc. It can be a great help to use these tools to set an age-appropriate framework for our kids’ online activities.
Other ways of using parental controls could be pre-setting screen time and secretly checking location or online activity. However, if we rely on parental control to monitor and control our kids' online lives, we rob them of the opportunity to learn to do it on their own.
Additionally, we want them to make the right choices because it makes sense to them, and not to avoid punishment. And we want them to feel they can use us as support in the learning process.
An alternative to strict rules and control is having conversations about good and safe online behavior. All while we guide and support them and show we trust them to do the right thing.
Using digital tools for monitoring online activity
While some parents prefer digital tools for monitoring online activity to keep their kids safe, a strong foundation of trust and open communication is far more effective. Instead of relying on secretly monitoring kids' online activity, we can focus on having honest conversations.
A relationship built on trust will be more worthwhile in the long run. It creates an atmosphere where kids feel safe to share and lean on us for support. This is a far better safety approach and foundation for life ahead.
Responding to cyberbullying
Finding out your child is being cyberbullied can be upsetting, but how we respond in that moment matters. As parents, it’s important to stay calm, listen without judgment, and make sure our children feel safe and supported. Many kids are afraid to speak up about bullying, so letting them know they did the right thing by telling us is crucial.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to respond to cyberbullying, from talking to your child to collecting evidence, blocking the bully, and knowing when to involve schools or the police. We can help stop the harm and begin the healing with the right steps.
Steps to take if your child experiences cyberbullying
If we find out our child is being bullied online, first of all, it’s important to stay calm. Our strong emotional reaction might stop them from sharing details. At the same time, we want to reassure them that this kind of behavior is not okay, and we won’t allow them to be treated this way. We also want to reassure them that telling us was the right thing to do.
Many kids find it hard to share about bullying. They might think it will make the bullying worse. Others might be threatened not to tell anyone by the bullies. Some can find it shameful or be afraid to upset their parents with the disturbing details.
Victims of bullying must understand this:
- Telling an adult and getting help is the right thing to do.
- It's not their fault that they are bullied; it doesn't mean something is wrong with them.
- The mean things that the bullies say are not true. Kids shouldn't deal with bullying on their own. It's the adults' responsibility to help everyone involved, and it's important to tell adults about the bullying.
- Never react to threats or give in to pressure or blackmail.
- Threats and blackmail can be illegal and should be reported.
- There is always a solution, and it will get better. Even the Internet can forget eventually.
Documenting incidents of cyberbullying
To collect information about the bullying, we can gently ask about details. For example, where it takes place, when it started, what it looks like, etc. Additionally, it’s important to collect cyberbullying evidence, such as screenshots, messages, or posts. It can be crucial for reporting the situation.
Make sure you save any proof before blocking the bully. As much as this is uncomfortable and can be tempting to delete mean messages right away, it is important not to. We want to be able to document cyberbullying.
How to block and report a bully online
Once we have collected the evidence, we need to block the bully. If our child is being harassed from multiple accounts or by unknown senders, we might have to do this several times.
Many platforms offer an option to report cyberbullying or profiles that break the guidelines for good online behavior. If needed, show your child how to use these features to stop unwanted interactions and block cyberbullying.
If the bully is anonymous or coming from multiple profiles, or the harassment is severe and illegal, reporting to the police for further investigation might be necessary.
If you know the kids in charge of the bullying, a good place to start is to contact their school or parents to talk with them about the behavior. Often, this can be a great way to handle it. Especially when the bullying is rooted in inconsiderate behaviour and a lack of knowing better.
If the issue is addressed early on and all kids involved get the necessary help, it can be stopped before it gets out of hand.
Preventing future occurrences of cyberbullying
After dealing with a cyberbullying incident, it’s natural for parents to worry about it happening again. One of the most important steps we can take is learning how to help our kids feel safe, supported, and empowered online. By understanding what led to the bullying, strengthening communication, and creating a plan moving forward, we can reduce the risk of it happening again.
Teaching kids how to protect themselves online, to speak up, and helping them create healthy digital environments are key to preventing future cyberbullying. With the right guidance and tools, we can make sure our children are better prepared and more confident to navigate online spaces safely.
Staying informed about new cyberbullying trends
It is easier to recognize when it happens when we know about the different ways bullying can take place. This way we can call out and stop cyberbullying before it escalates.
Online bullying might not always look like bullying if we don’t know better. It’s not always simple name-calling and harassment. It can have many different faces.
Many forms of cyberbullying are linked to specific ways of communicating and interacting online. Knowing about these details in kids' online social lives and decoding the digital language they use can help them fully understand the situation. The importance of the specific online community to the child also plays a role in how hard the bullying hits.
Not knowing better, we might think our child is overreacting and risk not understanding the situation. Being familiar with the different forms of communication and interaction online gives us a chance to talk to our children about good online behavior. What kind of behavior is okay and what is not? These conversations are an excellent way to prevent cyberbullying.
Educating about the consequences of cyberbullying
Educators and parents can play a vital role in teaching cyberbullying awareness. Kids may not always realize the harm they cause and the long-term consequences of cyberbullying. Some kids need support and guidance in learning empathy.
We can teach our kids what exclusion, harassment, spreading rumors, etc., feels like for the other person. We can teach them that this behavior is never okay, even when we are mad at someone or don’t like them. We can teach better ways to handle conflicts, anger, or feelings of insecurity.
Creating a supportive and understanding environment
Bullying often occurs in unsafe environments. It is common in groups where kids feel insecure and afraid to be themselves or stand out. Picking a victim to exclude and bully leaves the rest of the group with a sense of security.
Bullying and unhealthy group dynamics negatively affect everyone involved, not just the victim. As adults, it’s our job to help kids engage in healthy group dynamics. However, we should be careful not only to hold the bully responsible. They are often kids themselves needing help and guidance. A good rule of thumb is knowing that happy and thriving kids don’t bully other kids.
When kids who know each other outside the online world bully each other, it is rarely just an online problem. Being proactive in giving kids the right support and tools helps prevent bullying online and offline. This includes looking out for each other, speaking up, and getting help when someone is being mistreated.
We can encourage open, judgment-free conversations at home or in group settings at school. This way, children feel safe discussing online experiences. The better we understand cyberbullying, what is causing it, and why kids bully each other, the better we will know how to prevent it.
Addressing situations where your child is the bully
It's every parent's worst nightmare to discover their child is involved in bullying, especially when it comes to cyberbullying. But it's important to remember that this behavior doesn't define your child; it may be a sign they are struggling with something deeper. Addressing situations where your child is the bully requires understanding, open communication, and a focus on empathy. By recognizing the signs and taking proactive steps to guide your child toward better behavior, you can help them understand the impact of their actions and encourage positive change. Learn how to handle these situations with care and foster a respectful online presence for your child.
How to recognize if your child is engaging in cyberbullying
Any child can risk being bullied or becoming a bully. It can be difficult for parents to accept that their child might be a cyberbully. However, we must acknowledge that it can happen. It doesn’t mean that our child is mean or bad. It means they are not thriving in some areas of their life, or they are lacking the skills needed to handle the situation better.
Recognizing the signs of a bully is the first step toward addressing the behavior. We can watch for secretive online activity or a struggle with empathy for others. Sometimes bullying is an ongoing conflict or dislike toward a specific person that gets out of hand. Other characteristics or signs of child bullying could be struggling with problem-solving skills. Is our child bullying at school? If they are, they might also do it online.
As parents, we can notice the group dynamics around our child, for example, in the classroom, their friend circle, or the online groups they are a part of.
Do they seem at ease and tolerant of each other, or are they overly critical and putting each other down? Is it allowed to stand out and to be your unique self, or is there pressure from the group to think, look, and act alike?
To identify cyberbullying issues, we can observe what kind of online communities our child is attracted to. Who do they look up to? Is there a harsh tone and a culture of roasting or offensive pranks? However, the root of the problem rarely lies in the online world but in struggles with self-worth, feeling insecure in groups, fear of being left out, or issues within the family.
We should remember to be curious about the reasons for the bad behavior, addressing the root of the problem instead of just the symptom. Of course, if our child is a bully, the behavior has to stop. However, only punishing the child without understanding what is causing the behavior will not solve the problem. We must be curious about why our child feels the need to put other kids down.
Bullying is often a defense mechanism against a perceived threat or insecurity. It can also be a way to process unresolved feelings and problems. Your child might need help in other areas of life and with finding healthier ways to express their feelings, and insecurities, or solve conflicts.
Research shows that the stronger the relationship kids have with their parents, the less likely they are to bully. So connecting with your child, talking about how they are doing, stepping in where they need you, and making them feel safe, is the best way to address it if your child is a bully, online or offline.
Educating them about the impact of their actions
We should remember that children don’t always realize the harm their words and actions can cause. Sometimes bullying might not be meant to harm. It can be inconsiderate behavior or a clumsy attempt to interact or get attention. Sometimes just educating kids about how their behavior affects others can be enough. It could also be that they are stuck in an unhealthy pattern and don't know how to stop being a bully.
Some kids need support in learning empathy. Taking them through how their actions might make someone feel can be of help. Understanding the harm bullying causes plays a big part in understanding why bullying is wrong. Seeking out victims and apologizing can be a natural extension of that.
Teaching empathy and online respect
Fostering empathy is key to preventing bullying. Teaching empathy to kids and encouraging kindness in their digital interactions helps them become respectful children who contribute to a positive online environment. The best way to teach this is by modeling it ourselves.
We can ask ourselves if we show tolerance and understanding when talking about other people we disagree with or dislike. Or do we use a harsh and critical tone? As parents, we set the standard for how to treat other people, both friends and strangers. This is truly the key to raising respectful children and digital citizens.
Schools play a vital role in taking steps to prevent cyberbullying. They can lead the way in creating safe online and offline environments. It all starts with focusing on healthy group dynamics both online and offline.
Many schools have anti-bully policies that parents and teachers can rely on for support. Parents can also suggest working with educators to advocate for school bullying prevention programs. This way, they can ensure students learn about digital safety, kindness, and responsible online behavior.
What every parent needs to know about protecting their child from cyberbullying
These cyberbullying guidelines can be an inspiration on how to protect your child from cyberbullying. If we stay informed, set clear expectations for our kids' online interactions, and maintain open communication, we can create a safer digital environment for everyone. It all starts with making sure it’s safe to come to us.
Be supportive of your child's wants and needs
Children facing online harassment or exclusion need to feel heard and supported. Cyberbullying help for parents to lean on includes listening without judgment, reassuring your child that they are not alone, and that you will help them. It’s okay if we don’t always know what to do in the moment. But we can promise our children that we will find out.
Most importantly, we should never tolerate the situation but continue pushing for finding help for our child until a solution is found. We should let our kids know that we don’t accept or tolerate this kind of treatment from others.
Some kids might be afraid that telling their parents will make the situation worse. It’s our job to assure them that bullying is not something a child should ever handle on their own. Involving adults is necessary to stop it.
Put rules in place to protect your child
Not every corner of the Internet is for kids. Some online communities can have a bad influence. Influencers, communities, or cultures can affect kids, encourage mean pranks, roasting, and bullying.
The different ways of communicating online can give kids easy access to bullying without being face-to-face with the person. They only see their side of the screen. This way it doesn’t seem real and can be hard to understand the consequences of their actions. Some might send mean comments to a stranger, not to hurt the person but to impress their friends.
This is why having rules, guidelines, and education is vital in online interactions. It can be a great help to have online safety rules for kids and adults around screen use. What we use screens for, how we use them, and for how long. And remember, the best rules are those that kids and adults agree on and understand the need for.
Establishing clear guidelines and conversations around internet use is key to online safety and respectful communication. Agreeing on rules and connecting with the deeper values behind them is the best foundation for new habits.
If you have already had the Raising Digital Citizens conversation with your kids, you might want to create a Raising Digital Citizens agreement. Reaching an agreement and writing it down helps everyone in the family reconnect with the goals you set. It’s a great reminder when the pull of the screen gets you off track. This way, you can support each other in keeping the new habits and be reminded of why you agreed to it in the first place.
Stay involved in your child's digital world
Being engaged and interested in your child’s online life keeps you up-to-date with what they are doing online. It also makes it easier for your child to come to you with any issues or bad experiences if you are already familiar with their online hobbies and are used to talking about them.
Creating a relationship built on trust and closeness and taking an active part in our children's lives is by far the best way to keep them safe and thriving online and offline. This approach is far better for online protection than wanting to track a child's phone activity or parents' monitoring of children's online activity.
Get to know the bullying prevention policy at your child’s school
Furthermore, parents can become familiar with the school bullying policy to know what actions their school takes in response to online harassment. Partnering with educators and other parents helps reinforce anti-bullying efforts online and offline. If your child’s school doesn’t have a bullying or cyberbullying policy, you can encourage them to create one.
Being proactive and involved as a parent
Protecting children from cyberbullying requires ongoing involvement and a commitment to modelling responsible digital habits. Fighting cyberbullying takes more than focusing on online safety tips for parents.
We should be mindful that the best way to teach our digital citizens respectful behaviors and how to set boundaries is to lead by example. We must be open to talking about their online interests and problems and create a trusting relationship.
Raising digital citizens means equipping kids with the knowledge and confidence to make smart choices online, treat others with respect, and seek help when needed. When we guide them to be responsible digital citizens, we empower them to engage in positive, safe, and respectful online interactions - now and in the future.
