Cyberbullying, or purposefully causing harm to others in a repetitive manner through the use of electronic devices, is on the increase, especially among children. In Part 1 of this series, I had discussed how technology can be used for cyberbullying to deliberately hurt and harass a child, and its psychological effects on the victim. In Part 2 of this series, I had shared some valuable tips on how you can protect your child from becoming a victim of cyberbullying and also deal with its effects. 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.

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As children spend more time using communication technologies, their online behavior can become increasingly aggressive and personally abusive. One of the reasons for this is loss of inhibition among children using the Internet as they feel free to express their thoughts and emotions with little or no fear of being judged or rejected by others in the virtual social sphere. Not surprisingly, cyberbullies experience less remorse and empathy for their victims in comparison to bullies in the physical sphere due to the emotional distancing from the victim and their reactions.


In today’s age of smartphones, children experience minimum face-to-face socialization and little opportunity to develop their social skills. The rise of digital communication is severely affecting the social skills of the next generation, as children do not learn how to make reciprocal conversations, recognize emotional expressions and non-verbal cues, and connect to other human beings.


A number of studies have confirmed a connection between cyberbullying and deficient social skills, with those who score low on social skills and self-confidence often demonstrating high levels of online aggression. Cyberbullies lack effective intrapersonal coping skills and the required social and emotional skills to resolve interpersonal conflict in an amicable manner. The difficulties experienced by children in acquiring and using social skills often makes them engage in harassing behavior and turn to cyberbullying.


It is important for parents to instill the necessary social and emotional skills in children and adolescents. Since children are more likely to emulate positive behaviors based on their exposure to positive role models, parents need to be aware of their own use of social media, including what they post, share, and like. Avoid posting or sharing false comments on social media that are unkind and unnecessary in order to be a positive role model for your children.


You can prevent your children from becoming involved in cyberbullying by cultivating empathy in them, or teaching them how to value other perspectives and people. When children understand how others who are bullied might feel and how they themselves would feel on being bullied, they are less likely to indulge in such activities.


Negative feelings such as frustration, sadness, shame, and anger can often block empathy and overwhelm your child’s ability to care for others. Help your children manage their negative feelings by identifying them and encouraging them to talk to you about the reason why they feel that way. Communicating openly with your children and encouraging them to talk about their feelings often releases their empathy. The empathy you build in your children will transfer into their online interactions and influence how they deal with others in today’s online world with blurred boundaries.

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!