Kids today are growing up in an increasingly digital world. Whether attending classes, playing games, or watching their favorite show, children’s screen time has increased. Tween—children aged between eight and twelve—spend about 5½ hours on screen daily, and teens 8½ hours. That’s way too much.
The internet is a great place to learn and connect with people all over the world. But it’s an equally dangerous place. As children spend more time online, they are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying takes many forms, from hurtful messages and spreading rumors to harassment and exclusion from online groups. Protecting your children from it is important for every parent. Here, we’ll discuss several measures that you can adopt to keep your children safe from online bullying.
The Dangers of Cyberbullying on Children
Cyberbullying is more dangerous than other forms of bullying because it is relentless. Bulliers, through the use of technology, unleash a torrent of torment at any time of the day.
This form of bullying is a significant stressor in a young person’s life. There is mounting evidence that cyberbullying leads to higher levels of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness than traditional forms of bullying.
A meta-analysis that examined the link between cyberbullying, peer victimization, and suicide in children and adolescents concluded that online bullying was more intensely related to suicidal ideation than the traditional form. Cyberbullying can affect a child’s self-esteem. Bullied kids often feel intensely dissatisfied with who they are and begin to doubt their value and worth.
Online bullying also increases the risk of suicide. Children who are constantly tormented by instant messaging, text messages, or social media may consider harming themselves. They are also more likely to engage in substance abuse, skip school, and bring a weapon to school.
How to Protect Your Kids From Online Bullying: 3 Ways
Here are some practical strategies to protect your child from cyberbullying:
1. Set Healthy Tech Boundaries as Early as Possible
Setting healthy boundaries on the use of technology is important to fostering responsible digital behavior in children. Start by establishing clear rules around screen time. Make sure to specify when and how long devices can be used daily. This will prevent your children from becoming too attached to their phones and computers.
Teach children to use technology as a tool rather than a constant source of entertainment. Also, emphasize the necessity of unplugging devices before bedtime, during family meals, and at other predetermined times. This will help you empower children to develop a healthy relationship with technology and navigate the digital world responsibly.
2. Conduct a Social Media Audit
Cyberbullying is rampant on social media. Twenty-two percent of children admitted to being bullied on social media in a recent survey conducted by ExpressVPN. Disturbingly, 14% of children were asked for their home address by strangers, and 17% revealed that they were inquired about the school they went to.
Facebook leads the way when it comes to cyberbullying. About 53% of children witnessed bullying and 50% experienced the same on the platform. Coming in at a close second is Instagram, with 40% witnessing cyberbullying and 30% experiencing it.
These platforms, TorHoerman Law comments, have grown into a breeding ground for abusers and bullies who prey on teenage girls.
Thirty-three states have filed a Facebook and Instagram lawsuit in California’s federal court. These lawsuits claim that social media platforms are unknowingly harming the mental health of children. The addictive features of Meta’s platforms are enabling cyberbullying as well as interfering with sleep and education.
The suits seek compensation for the damages done to the children and demand an end to the practices of Meta that violate the law.
Conducting a social media audit is, therefore, important to ensure their safety. Keep an eye on what your child posts or comments and the messages they send to detect any signs of cyberbullying, harassment, or inappropriate content. Also, review their friend list, followers, and privacy settings regularly to ensure they only connect with trusted individuals.
Talk to them about social media platforms and encourage them to share their online experiences with you. Fostering open communication will create a safe space where they will be able to share unfortunate incidents they encounter.
3. Teach Your Children Safe Online Behavior
You must teach your child about safe online behavior so that they can navigate the digital world securely.
Instruct them not to share their personal information, such as addresses, passwords, and contact details, online. Explain that sharing these details on social media or online forums can be risky. Also, advise them not to accept requests from or talk to people they don’t know. Caution them not to agree to meet someone in person they’ve only met online without parental supervision.
To sum things up, cyberbullying can be damaging for children, and as a parent, it’s your duty to protect them from it.
Implementing these strategies will help you keep your children safe from online bullying. Consider talking to them about the steps they should take in case they are cyberbullied. Lastly, don’t forget that the internet and technology aren’t the issue; the real problem is the people who use them to harm others.