How to shield your child against cyber bullies
Parents to assume a more proactive role in monitoring their children’s social media activities to help prevent them from falling victim to cyber bullying.
THE Department of Justice has warned parents to assume a more proactive role in monitoring their children’s social media activities to help prevent them from falling victim to cyber bullying.
Pritima Osman, from the department child justice and children’s court, said monitoring their internet and social media usage would also help parents to check if their children were perpetrators of bullying.
Osman said the most important thing for parents to do is to raise awareness and report bullying to schools, or to the police if the bullying is persistent. Bullies should not be put through shock therapy to make them aware of their actions, as previously reported, but victims should rather inform their parents or teachers, she said.
‘Our work is to protect children, not harm them. It is guided by and aligned to the Constitution and the Children’s Act,’ Osman said.
‘The affected person should never feel like they are alone. They should speak up immediately. Parents need to be aware of and have regular talks about cyber bullying. Like the old way of bullying, cyber bullying also causes harm.’
Signs
There are signs such as depression, or children who are normally active becoming withdrawn.
Parents need to report it to the school for some form of intervention.
Parents could also seek help from social workers and psychologists.
The Children’s Act states that bullying by another child can be considered as abuse and charges can be laid against the perpetrator.
