Katey, a Chandler mom with five daughters between the ages of 10 and 13, worries about the continual — almost daily — cyberbullying that affects not only her kids, but thousands of other students at their schools.
“It’s a constant dig at their dignity,” says Katey, who previously served as a school administrator in the East Valley. (She asked that we not use her last name.) Technology has “opened kids up to it 24/7.”
Cyberbullying stories persist in the local and national news and the effects of this behavior can be devastating for everyone involved. Statistics show that modern technology — with its ability to increase our connectivity — makes it the perfect bullying platform.
Cyberbullying is defined as ongoing, targeted harassment via digital devices over a period of time. While spreading rumors and bullying is nothing new for kids, online tools can magnify the hurt, humiliation and social drama in a very public way. Examples of cyberbullying include sending hurtful texts or instant messages, posting embarrassing photos or videos on social media and spreading mean rumors online or via smartphones.
“The general population doesn’t know what they’re handing their kids,” Katey says, referencing the increasingly earlier age when children are given their first smartphones. “My daughter was secretly recorded in dance class, her image changed into a man, and then derogatory comments were posted on a Snapchat story about maybe she was actually a man and not a girl.”
The feeling of being anonymous or “removed” from a target in an online environment can encourage a kid who normally wouldn’t say anything mean face-to-face to act irresponsibly or unethically.
With the effects of cyberbullying ranging from low self-esteem to depression to thoughts of violence or suicide, it is important for parents, teachers and kids alike to know how to identify cyberbullying and learn how to prevent it.
“It’s a negative comment on a post, not being invited to a gathering and knowing a lot of your friends are going, and then they post pictures, or sometimes they will block you for no reason, but then you hear about it anyway. So, it’s kind of subtle over time — not one big thing,” says Jennifer, a mom of children who attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District. (She also requested we identify her only by her first name.)
If you’re trying to figure out whether your youngster is being cyberbullied, think about whether the offender is being hurtful intentionally and repeatedly. If the answer is no, the offender might simply need to learn better online behavior. If the answer is yes, take it seriously.
“She was frantic and tearfully sad,” Katey says of her daughter’s experience, “trying to figure out how to confront the person who posted it, knowing all the while what the outcome would most likely be, and the fact that there was no real way for people to ‘unsee’ it.”
Former teacher Victoria Saylor, a parent of two and Arizona education manager for Common Sense Media, says getting students and their parents to talk openly about experiences with cyberbullying can be difficult, because a stigma remains about being bullied.
“Students’ self-esteem is greatly impacted with any type of bullying, and it affects their behavior, health and grades,” says Saylor. “I noticed more absences, declining grades and changes in behavior, including signs of depression.”
Until recently, parents, teachers and news accounts have focused on the relationship between a bully and his or her target. But experts say that there are usually more kids involved in a cyberbullying scenario, making it much more complex than previously thought. In fact, one of the side effects of how public bullying has become is that potentially everyone in the bully’s circle of friends — both online and off — may be involved.
Identifying the different roles in a cyberbullying situation can help you to help your child develop self-awareness and a sense of empathy. These skills will go a long way toward cultivating an online culture of respect and responsibility.
First, there’s the cyberbully, the aggressor who’s using digital devices to deliberately upset or harass his or her target, and the person who’s being cyberbullied. Then there are the bystanders, the kids who are aware that something cruel is going on but who stay on the sidelines (either out of indifference or because they’re afraid of being socially isolated or of becoming targets themselves).
But there are also kids who act as upstanders. These are the kids who actively try to break the cycle, whether by sticking up for the target, addressing the bully directly, or notifying the appropriate authorities about what’s going on.
Kids should be encouraged to take the active role of upstander and build positive, supportive online communities. By making kids aware that a safe world is everyone’s responsibility, we empower them to take positive actions — like reporting a bully, flagging a cruel online comment, or not forwarding a humiliating photo — that ultimately can put a stop to an escalating episode of cruelty.
“I am a huge fan of kids owning their own conflict with parental support and guidance, as the kids know the other child much better than I ever will,” Katey explains. “We role-played back and forth possible ways she could handle it and sorted out the least likely to inflame yet still advocate for herself and to set a boundary for the other child.
“There is never a Hallmark moment in these situations,” Katey adds, “but [there is] the constant reminder that dignity is theirs to keep, and … one child/adult … never has the right to take yours away.”
4 signs your child is involved in cyberbullying
- Behavior changes. A kid who bullies usually is in some type of crisis. If your normally happy kid turns grumpy, aggressive or defiant, it may be more than the typical tween/teen ups and downs.
- Slipping grades. When school work suffers or is inconsistent, it could be an outward sign of inner distress. If necessary, enlist the help of teachers or other family members.
- Secretive or evasive behavior. Does your kid hide his/her phone or laptop when you are around? A need for privacy is natural, but trust your gut if it seems excessive or defensive.
- Multiple social media accounts. If your child has multiple online profiles for a single social network, he/she might be trying to hide or disguise activities. If you become aware of this, focus on supporting your child and helping him sort out his issues. And follow through with natural consequences, not harsh punishments.
5 tips for dealing with cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can take parents by surprise. But if your kids are texting, sharing photos or posting comments, it is important to have a conversation with them about what to do if they become a target of online harassment. Here are tips to share with your kids about dealing with cyberbullies:
- Don’t respond or retaliate. If you are angry or hurt, you might say things that you will regret later. Plus, retaliation only prolongs the problem and doesn’t solve it.
- Block the bully. Block phone numbers, screen names and email addresses, and remove the person from your buddy or friends list.
- Save the evidence. Print out or take screen shots of the abusive messages and keep them as proof.
- Report it. Most websites have rules against cyberbullying. You can usually find information on how to report abuse in the site’s community guidelines.
- Tell a trusted adult. Telling a teacher or a parent isn’t tattling, it’s standing up for yourself. Even if the bullying occurs online, your school probably has rules against it.
“Using Common Sense” is an exclusive column written monthly by Ilana Lowery for Raising Arizona Kids readers!
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