This week is National Anti-bullying week. Would you know what to do if you suspected your child was being bullied online?
Cyberbullying, or online bullying, is when someone uses the internet to bully someone else. The Cambridge dictionary defines cyberbullying as ‘Someone who uses the internet to harm or frighten another person, especially by sending them unpleasant messages.’
If you suspect your child is being bullied online, here are some top tips:
Have an open conversation
Listen, and offer support and encouragement. If your child is the victim of cyberbullying, remind them that this is not their fault and that no one deserves to be treated in this way. Some young people think that if they are the target of online bullying, they must have done something wrong. It is also important to encourage your child to save the evidence. They can do this by taking a screenshot of what has happened or by keeping the messages they have received.
Don’t reply
Most of the time the person doing the bullying is looking for a reaction when they are being mean online. Tell your child not to reply, instead they should tell a trusted adult what has happened. Reassure them that even if they are also at fault, they should come and talk to you or a trusted adult. You can then work out the best way to resolve the situation together.
Don’t deny access to technology
Although it can be very tempting to remove a device from a young person if they are being bullied, having their device taken away may prevent them from speaking to you about worrying issues in the future.
Discuss next steps
Ask your child what they want you to do next. This might involve speaking to school to get support and advice, blocking the user or profile or reporting the behaviour to the site or service it is on.
If you need more support or guidance with online safety please contact a staff member or send us an email newdale.primary@taw.org.uk