It was no laughing matter when the Oxford English Dictionary added ‘cyberbullying’ to its pages. Just as the Internet has forged its way indelibly into our lives, cyberbullying is here to stay.
But how much about cyberbullying do people really know? After seeing a few blog posts about back-to-school marking a return to cyberbullying in the northern hemisphere, we decided to dispel that myth along with some others:
1. Cyberbullying is a back-to-school phenomenon
The end of summer vacation doesn’t mean cyberbullying is back in session. For many, cyberbullying never took a break. Thanks to the anytime, anywhere nature of the Internet, online harassment can happen all year long — and it can get particularly ugly over the summer when boredom might combine with a need to settle scores. So while cyberbullying is something to watch out for as kids return to school, keep in mind they could already have pent-up anger and resentment from summer-long harassment. Talk to your kids to try and detect virtual abuse before it turns into physical showdowns.
2. Cyberbullies are bad kids
We’ve seen how cyberbullying can ruin the lives of both victims and aggressors. All forms of cyberbullying are inappropriate, but some offenders could be simply trying to defend themselves the only way they know how. Keep in mind both sides can be at fault. Maintain open and steady communication with your child to try and intercept cyberbullying before the back-and-forth exchanges rise to a fever pitch, and someone does the unthinkable. Above all, don’t launch attacks of your own or you will be guilty of cyberbullying, too.
3. Cyberbullying is no worse than regular bullying
There is still a stubborn perception that cyberbullying is just another form of the age-old pushing around that happens in the schoolyard. But dismissing cyberbullying as a rite of passage that children have to go through is just plain neglectful. Cyberbullying is particularly hard on kids because, among other things, 1.) it’s there for everyone to see, and 2.) it can be searchable forever. You are responsible for helping your child protect his or her online reputation. Not taking action when your child is so desperately looking for help means giving them little recourse but to fight back, sink into depression or worse.
4. If ignored, cyberbullies will eventually tire and leave kids alone
The thing to remember with cyberbullying is it can create a reputation that follows victims for life. So when a child says something that was posted about them is the end of the world, in the online realm at least, it can be. Even if offenders eventually tire and move on, their words and images can remain to hurt victims over and over again.
5. Nothing can be done
The good news: unlike traditional bullying, where kicks under the table are hard to punish, cyberbullying is there for all to see. It can be shown, and it can be acted upon. After a rash of bullying-driven suicides and real-world attacks, many schools and law agencies are now working together to combat the problem. Find out what policies your child’s school has in place. Persuade them to hold prevention rallies that raise awareness of cyberbullying’s harmful effects and how offenders can be caught and disciplined.
Talk to your child. If you discover he or she is involved in cyberbullying as victim, aggressor or both, discuss it first with the parents of the children involved. Chances are everyone will want to resolve the matter amicably — cyberbullies can earn digital reputations that harm them later in life, too.
