It’s no secret that as long as popular social media sites
have existed, the virtual distance between computer screens has acted as a veil
behind which many bullies feel safer lashing out in disrespectful or harmful
ways.
Cyberbullying is only becoming a bigger problem as the idea
of anonymity online becomes increasingly popular. Sites like ask.fm, which
allows questions from strangers, or apps like whisper, which allows anonymous
conversations through picture messages, are making it easier for bullies to get
away with leaving harmful comments.
Forbidding teens from using these websites or apps--assuming they’re at an age where
they’re old enough to make certain decisions about their own
internet use-- ignores the issue rather than addressing it. That’s why it’s
important to know how to recognize when cyberbullying is happening, as well as
how to open up communication with your teen in order to make sure they stay safe
and know how to properly deal with a bully.
The infographic below contains some statistics about cyberbullying as well as some strategies for parents to protect their children and
keep them safe online.
Ideally, there would be a way to stop cyberbulyling entirely. However, that aside, keep these tips in mind in case it does happen to your child.
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