Help: My child is being cyberbullied!
Now is the time for parents to be proactive in speaking to their children about online safety and cyberbullying.
If you’re a parent you’ve probably heard of the dangers of cyberbullying. What you might not know, however, is that cyberbullies come in all shapes and sizes. Almost anyone with an Internet connection or cellular phone can cyberbully your child.
According to the South African Police Department, cyberbullies can torment their victims 24 hours a day and the bullying can follow the victim anywhere so that no place, not even home, ever feels safe, and with a few clicks, the humiliation can be witnessed by hundreds or even thousands of people online.
What is cyberbullying?
With the rise of technology, bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards or street corners. Bullying that occurs over digital devices such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets is known as cyberbullying.
Sending, uploading, or spreading unpleasant, harmful, misleading, or nasty content about someone else is considered cyberbullying. It can involve embarrassment or humiliation caused by sharing intimate or private information about another individual.
Cyberbullying can sometimes cross the line into illegal or criminal action.
Where does cyberbullying occur?
Cyberbullying can take place offline in social media, forums, or gaming where people can watch, participate in, or share content, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. The following are the most prevalent places where cyberbullying occurs:
- Social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok
- On mobile or tablet devices
- On text messaging (SMS)
- Through instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting
- On online gaming community groups
According to Casey Rousseau from 1st for Women Insurance, who launched SA’s first cyberbullying insurance policy in 2018: “The threat of being cyberbullied has increased over the years. While many social media platforms are taking their policies seriously when it comes to reducing cyberbullying, children remain at risk, and more still needs to be done.”
What parents can do
Cybersafety expert, founder of SaveTNet Cyber Safety, and author of “Raising a SCREEN SAVVY child”, Rianette Leibowitz, shares her advice on what parents need to consider. “There are different types of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the process of using the internet and digital platforms to intentionally embarrass or hurt someone. To help them deal with this, children need cyber-savvy parents. You can join groups on social media, attend seminars and also see what educational sessions your children’s schools might be offering,” she advises.
She offers these tips:
- Tell your child what cyberbullying is, what the signs are, and how to recognise it. Help them to identify and articulate this in their own language.
- Check out the privacy settings, terms and conditions, and usage rights of the platforms your children are on.
- Adhere to age restrictions specified by the platforms.
- Use parental control apps and set up a social media or internet usage agreement with your children so that you are both on the same page about what is acceptable or unacceptable online behaviour.
- Be interested and involved in your child’s online world and have regular conversations about the friends they meet, the games they play and the risks involved.
- Understand that even if an account is set to private, and other users cannot see your children, they are still being exposed to the content. Guide them to make informed and good decisions when it comes to the content they consume.
“While we cannot always control the internet and social media usage of our children, we have to be realistic that they are susceptible to being bullied. It is important then that we, as parents, equip both them and ourselves as best as possible to deal with this issue,” says Rousseau. “Since we launched our cyberbullying product we have seen a positive uptake and feel that this is at least one way 1st for Women can help parents with the help they need.”
Reach out for help
South Africa has a hotline for reporting online child sexual abuse and at the Internet Watch Foundation. Childline South Africa also offers counselling and support to children who need to reach out on 08000 55 555.
