Cyberbullying is more dangerous than traditional bullying because most parents lack the technological knowledge to keep pace with their children’s online activity. In part 1 of this series, I had discussed how a cyberbully can use technology to deliberately hurt and harass a child and its psychological effects on the victim. In Part 2 of this series, I will be sharing some valuable tips on how you can protect your child from becoming a victim of cyberbullying and also deal with its effects.

undefined


Educate your child: As soon as your child starts using a cell phone and opening social media accounts, talk to them about cyberbullying. Explain to them exactly what constitutes cyberbullying, its different ways and forms, how it feels to be cyberbullied, and the effects of cyberbullying. Make sure that your child is well-educated on the subject as soon as they begin venturing into the online world and that will confide in you if they experience any form of cyberbullying.


Encourage online safety: Teach your child about online safety such as ignoring Facebook requests from unknown people, never adding strangers to their messaging list, never giving out personal information that could be used for bullying, never sharing passwords of social media accounts with friends, and thinking twice before posting inappropriate photos or videos that could attract unwanted attention or negative comments.


Set rules: It is important to make your child agree to certain rules regarding usage of mobile phone, laptop or tablet, as always remaining online exposes them to the risk of cyberbullying 24 hours a day. Since cyberbullying happens mostly at night and the perpetrator sends the victim text messages and shares images on social media to harass and intimidate, you must ensure that all the devices in the house are switched off at night.


Seek help: Children who become victims of cyberbullying experience negative emotions such as anger, shame and anxiety, which they find difficult to share with their parents or loved ones in the family. Counseling can help such children share these painful feelings, which can otherwise have a negative impact on their personal well-being if left unattended. A trained therapist can also teach the affected child important coping skills, such as assertive communication and boundary-setting, to help them get over their cyberbullying experience and move forward in life.

In Part 3 of this series, I will be discussing how staying in the virtual world is making children lose their social skills and develop lack of empathy for others, resulting in their inability to realize the effects of their actions on others.

If you or someone you know needs help in dealing with the effects of cyberbullying, contact Orly Gueron a Licensed marriage and family therapist and relationship specialist in Aventura, FL!