What is Cyberbullying and how can you protect your children from bullies

Cyberbullying has been an alarming issue for both parents and teachers with the increased presence of kids over the internet. As of 2021, cyberbullying is much a more prominent issue now than it used to be a decade ago. Kids and Teens are spending more time online these days. As per recent reports, around 92 per cent of kids are present on Web Daily, and around a quarter of them logs in daily.

As the kids and teens share their personal information on social media profile these days. With this, they share a 110% higher risk of being cyberbullying compared to their peers. In just last 1 year, more than 2 million children and teens were cyberbullied just on Facebook, and around 90 per cent of kids present on the internet experienced or witnessed risky behaviour while being online.

Protecting your children from cyberbullying is a matter of awareness and response. Understanding what your kids are doing on the internet and how they can be vulnerable and understand to respond when their online presence is threatened by trolls, bullies, and other dangerous users.

Notice your child is expressing anger or anxiety over time after spending time over the internet. It might be the sign of being a victim of cyberbullying, as of 2021, cyberbullying is the reason for several mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, drugs use, and suicide.

As a parent, there are numerous things you could plan to keep your kids safe from the unthinkable issues. You might decide to cut them entirely from internet access or social media. However, it won't prepare them for future adulthood. Instead of being a complete shield for your kids from social media, you can make use of social media as a tool to teach them about healthy relationship and communication skills.

Here are some surprising cyberbullying statistics you need to know:

●    Around 50% of children who has social media presence admits that they have experienced cyberbullying online.

●    70% of kids admit that they have witnessed cyberbullying

●    50% of children admit to being scared to get online because of bullies.

●    Above 90% of cyberbullying are done through chatting and commenting on social media websites.

●    The victims of cyberbullying are 3 to times more likely to consider committing suicide.

●    Only 2 in 10 victims are found to have informed their teachers or parents of cyberbullying.

Things to do to protect your child from cyberbullying

Here are a few things you can do to protect your child from cyberbullying and promote a healthy online environment for their learning and better mental growth.

Set healthy tech boundaries for your Kids

It would be best to secure your kids by implementing appropriate restrictions and permissions on their web and social media usage at an early age. It would also be best if you defined what electronics your kids use and set reasonable limits to their smartphones, laptops, or PCs. It would help to encourage them to develop a healthy sense of self-awareness regarding their digital identity.

Develop an Environment of awareness and understanding mental illness

Kids and teens suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions are more vulnerable and targets for online bullies. Also, shame and inability to share can make things make the situation worse. If your child or any kid you know is showing is struggling with mental illness, please make sure that they get proper help, and help them cope with their symptoms. Making the environment positive and proper guidance from parents can eliminate the stigma on the kid's mental health.

Monitor for behaviour changes

Suppose your child shows any behaviour like isolation, withdrawal, and aversion to social situations that your child used to enjoy in the past. In that case, it could be a sign of cyberbullying effect. Though it's not a good idea to invade their privacy but checking their text messages or private communication without their knowledge can be a way to learn more about what your kid is going through.

However, it would be best if you were careful while monitoring your kids' texts, as it might backfire and your kids might become more secretive.

Provide your kids with an open channel for communication

You should provide your kids with an open channel for communication so that they can easily share their relationship at school as well as their online activity. If your kids ask for their smartphones or laptops and spend more time over the internet and social media, you need to discuss the rights & responsibilities that come with privilege. With your support and children cooperation, you can create an environment where they would feel best to talk if any issue arises.

Define and aware them of Cyberbullying

The best way to keep your child safe and protect your kids from cyberbullying is by giving them a proper definition of cyberbullying. Aware them with examples that they might experience by using online activities, they are most likely to use.

Cyberbullying is in various forms, such as hurting and demotivating comments on Facebook to aggressive posts on Instagram to trolling on Youtube to cyberstalking on every platform.

The least you can do is have patience, and talk with your child about the problem in general.

Teach them a way to respond to bullies

As bullying is done generally to kids and teens who are unaware of how to handle, it would be best to teach them a strategy to counter and appropriately respond to the bullies. However, you need to be careful while teaching them the proper response as the wrong response could encourage more bullying in the future.

Know the apps and platforms your kid use

It can be a hectic task for you to understand whether your kids are being bullied if you don't know what apps and platforms your child spend most of the time. It would be best to learn about how the apps work and most likely, the ways trolls and other online activities can hamper your child well-being.

Emphasize positivity

Your kids' teachers and school staff can play a significant role in preventing cyberbullying. A teacher can use staff and parent meetings, and regularly send the newsletter to teach how to use digital electronics. Also, the school can create a forum which can be monitored without kids ideas.

The school can also create a digital community that can be an open space for parents and teachers to discuss children status during school and at home.

Ask them what they want.

If you find your child experiencing emotional distress and change in behaviour because of the online situation, ask them about the outcome they would like to see. The best thing you can do is talk and work together to brainstorm a perfect solution to keep your child out of danger and in a secure environment.

These were some tips you can implement to protect your child from online cyberbullying. Please let us know in the comments section if you have more ideas to share for taking care of online child activities.