Cyberbullying And Your Internet Connection: Are Your Kids Exposed?

Cyberbullying And Your Internet Connection: Are Your Kids Exposed?

Having the ability to access the internet from home has changed the way in which we conduct our daily lives. Millions of people research products, locate restaurants, and conduct their banking online. Even the U.S. Postal Service has reported a dramatic reduction of snail mail volume as people have grown more accustomed to paying bills and communicating through the internet. As young children have started to spend enormous amounts of time browsing the web, a new and alarming trend has taken form: cyberbullying.

In this article, we’ll explain what cyberbullying is and why there is increasing concern about its impact on children. We’ll also provide a few tips for protecting your family from online bullies.

What Is It?

Cyberbullying can be defined as online harassment. It can take the form of stalking, threatening, gaining another’s trust through deceptive impersonation, and posting lies about a person. Many experts also include activities such as doctoring photos, uploading sensitive information, and getting other people to harrass the victim.

The act of bullying others on the web has received an enormous amount of attention from legal authorities over the past year. While many cases have been relatively harmless (for example, children embarrassing their class peers), others have had devastating effects. A recent case involved a popular social networking site and eventually led the young victim to commit suicide.

Understanding Its Impact On Kids

Bullying is always troubling. But, when it is done online, it can have an impact that lasts far longer than it would were it done in person. First, cyberbullying is difficult to contain. Pictures, threats, and compromising videos can be uploaded anonymously to servers throughout the world. Once they are uploaded, they are nearly impossible to control.

Second, when a victim is bullied on the internet, the impact is emotional rather than physical. It lasts longer and leaves a significant imprint on a person.

Third, the web is pervasive, there is seldom a way to escape the bullying. Even a child’s home, once considered a private refuge, is not shielded from the effects of the bullying. Pictures, videos, and threats can still be viewed online.

How To Protect Your Family

One of the reasons cyberbullying is worrisome is because it is done anonymously. The nature of the internet makes is easy for bullies to be elusive. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect any young children in your home from becoming victims.

First, make sure that your kids are comfortable communicating with you. They need to have confidence that they can share things with you without being punished (for example, being banned from enjoying online access). Second, invest the time to educate your children regarding what to do in the event they’re bullied on the internet. That includes ignoring threats and printing evidence for you to review. Third, explain that you will not tolerate their bullying of others.

If you need additional help, you may want to contact an online reputation advocate like Michael Fertik to monitor you and your children’s reputation online.

You and your family can enjoy using the internet at home without being concerned about cyberbullies. The key is to teach your kids how to respond in the event they’re on the receiving end of any type of online harassment.

More Parenting Help and Tips

1. Stop The Bully Labeling
2. Bullicied, A Tragedy