Warning Signs of Cyberbullying (& What To Do)
Almost 90% of teenage cyberbullying victims don't tell their parents or trusted adults (including teachers) about the abuse. In 2020, about five million kids between the ages of 10 and 18 were cyberbullied in the United States [*]. Sadly, cyberbullying often goes unreported and unnoticed by adults.
Sometimes, even when victims seek help from parents and teachers, the bullying doesn’t stop. In one devastating case last year, a 10-year-old student took her own life after being continually bullied — even after her parents tried to get her school to intervene [*].
Cyberbullying is a tragic consequence of children living in a digital world. As parents, it’s critical that we learn to identify the signs of cyberbullying early on — and know when and how to intervene.
Would you know if your child is being bullied online ? Does your child seem on edge when their phone beeps? Maybe, they’re hiding devices when you’re around. Here are Some signs to looks out for:
1. Using their devices significantly more (or less)
2. Deleting their social media accounts or opening new ones
3. Becoming withdrawn and not wanting to attend social events
Also, be on the lookout for: Spending an excessive amount of time alone.
Here are some tips on how to prevent cyberbullying from happening in the future
Set up protection on devices and online accounts
Monitor your children to ensure they are staying safe online.
With complex passwords that your children keep secret, it's harder for bullies to access their accounts.
Here’s what to do:
Sign up for a family identity theft protection service to manage your children’s online activity. Aura_protects gives parents a way to block websites and apps like Snapchat and TikTok and parents can see a complete report of which blocked sites their kids have tried to access. Get alerted to threats with 24/7 in-game voice and text monitoring for over 200 of the most popular PC games.
Use the privacy tools on social media platforms to limit what others can see and do on your child’s profile. For example, you can prevent others from tagging your child in photos.
Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) to stop bullies and predators from hacking into your child’s account.
Monitor your children to ensure they are staying safe online
If your child has already been bullied or you have spotted some signs of cyberbullying, it's essential to remain vigilant.
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