Cyberbullying is harassing, threatening or targeting another person with the use of technology. This could be by text, tweet, post, message, photo or video. In 2017, 1 in 5 young people in Australia reported being threatened, socially excluded or abused over the Internet.
Signs your child might be cyberbullied include:
- The child being upset after using technology
- Changes in personality: the child might become anxious, sad, withdrawn
- Changes in friendship groups
- Decline in schoolwork, sleep patterns, and physical health
- Avoiding school and extracurricular activities
- Being secretive about use of phone or the Internet
- Becoming nervous when receiving a text message
If your child is being cyberbullied:
Offer support and comfort. Tell your child it is not their fault and praise them for coming to you. Soothe your child by saying you will solve the problem together.
Talk to someone at your child’s school about the cyberbullying. Before blocking the bully make sure to collect evidence such as screenshots as a record of the bullying behaviour. The exception to this is sexualised images which it is illegal to include in screenshots. Tell your child not to respond to messages from bullies.
Encourage your child to become involved in extracurricular and extended family activities that will help maintain self-esteem when facing bullying.