Stop Cyberbullying
Don't be mean behind the screen
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is the act of bullying somebody on the internet. It can do as much damage as physical bullying by just saying something that you might regret. Cyberbullying always takes place on electronic devices.
Examples of Cyberbullying
Some examples of cyberbullying are:
- Teasing
- Name-calling
- Taunting
Three differences between cyberbullying & bullying
- Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can reach a kid even when he/she is alone
- Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience
- Deleting inappropriate of harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent
Effects of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can have many effects on children. Kids will start skipping school when they are bullied online. They will start making poor grades and not caring about school. Lower self-esteem is also an effect it can have on children. They will have more health problems. It will get so bad that they will even submit to drinking and doing drugs. Cyberbullying can effect a students life in many horrible ways.
Prevention & Awareness
Parents can do a lot to keep their kids from being cyberbullied. Parents need to be more aware of what their children are doing online. They need to establish rules for their children to follow while using the internet. Kids need to also understand the school's and not do anything that could provoke any type of bullying. Parents need to know what sites their kids are going on so that they can protect them from anything that could lead to cyberbullying. One major precaution that can be taken is to learn your child's password to any social media account that they have. Cyberbullying can be prevented if you take many precautions.
Establishing Rules
Everybody who uses the internet should have a set of rules that they have to follow. Parents should be clear of what sites that kids are using. Also, they need to limit what they are allowed to do while on the web. To keep their children safe; parents should show their kids how to be safe online. Rules should always be followed while using the internet.
Reporting a Cyberbully
If you are being cyberbullied online you need to know some immediate steps to take. Never respond or forward a cyberbullying message. Always keep evidence of cyberbullying by recording dates, printing evidence, and saving screenshots of what people have said to you. If someone is cyberbullying you, you need to block them immediately and tell a parent or trusted adult. You should always report a cyberbully when you see one.
Report to your Online Service Provider
When someone is getting cyberbullied, you should alert your online service provider. You can do this by reporting the bully to the social media site so that they can take action against users abusing the terms of service. Also, visit social media sites to learn how to block users and change the settings to control who can contact you. Cyberbullying should always be announced so it can be taken care of.
Report to your local Law Enforcement
If cyberbullying is getting seriously bad you need to contact you local law enforcement quickly. If people online say any threat of violence towards you, law enforcement should be contacted immediately to deal with the situation. Stalking is against the law and if someone is stalking you, then you need to tell a law official right away. Don't ever let anybody take a photo of you in an area that is expected to be private, and if this does happen tell the local law enforcement and they will get rid of the problem. Local law enforcement can put a stop to cyberbullying if something is said.
Report to your School
If the bullying is also at school, then inform a teacher about it and they can do something. Schools can use any information about the situation to help inform prevention and response strategies. Schools are required to address cyberbullying in their anti-bullying policy. Schools can take action to prevent and stop cyberbullying.