Have you ever encountered a Cyberbully online? As a blogger, I have encountered many that we affectionately call trolls. As an adult, I have developed a thick skin and also have a healthy self-esteem, so when they attack, I am able to shrug it off. The teenage version of me would be devastated if someone would be mean to me that I didn’t know. It’s easy to see where teens can easily become distracted and consumed by the acts of a cyberbully.
Cyberbullying can affect anyone. Here are some shocking statistics about cyberbullying that you may not have known (Source- Cyberbullying Research Center):
- Half of kids and teens have experienced cyber bullying
- 10-20% of those who experience cyber bullying do so on a regular basis
- According to Cyberbullying Research Center, Boys are more likely to be threatened by cyber bullies than girls
A cyber bully may be hard to get rid of. The longer it takes to get rid of them, the more it can be dangerous to your childs health and mental well-being. Although it seems impossible (especially if the cyber bully enlists others to join in), it is possible to get rid of a bully. If you teach your kids to spot one and to bring it to your attention, you can help them conquer that bully. Here are three tips to help you get started.
- 1. Keep Proof
If your child has been bullied via social media, text or email, make sure that they keep those messages saved. If the cyber bullying continues and you decide to involve law enforcement, you can use that proof against the person or in one Texas mom’s case, you can use it to draw attention to the subject of cyberbullying on to the nation. When her special needs teen was being bullied, she posted the proof on the internet and the story was quickly picked up by major news outlets. To the shock of the nation we watched how one teen was treated so horribly by her peers. Eventually in this case as well as others, the bullies had charges brought against them.
2. Don’t Feed Into Their Behavior
Sometimes if you ignore them, they may go away. This may be effective for a random internet predator. They will get tired of trying to get to you, give up and move on to someone else. If your teen is communicating back and forth with them, or are constantly standing up for themselves, it just gives the bully more fuel. By telling them you could care less what they think or say and ignore them, you are taking away their power.
3. Block Them
Social Media sites like Twitter and Facebook allow you to block users. Tell your teen that they have the option to block people that they don’t want to hear from. If someone seems to be bullying them on social media or through email, you have ways to block them from contacting them.
Whatever you do, don’t let the bully win. Let your kids know that it’s not their fault and get them counseling to cope with the pressures of being bullied online. Don’t let it go on and lead to deeper more lasting issues with their health and self-esteem.
Hilla James is a life coach who also devotes her time to a teen crisis hotline. When not volunteering, she contributes her knowledge to Mobile Spy, an Android spy app that can help parents keep track of who their kids are texting or who they are talking to online.