New technology has made it easier for bullies to reach their victims. If you think your child is being affected, use our action checklist for advice on how to support and protect your child from cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying?
If your child has a mobile phone, a games console, uses social networking sites, instant messenger programs or simply has their own email address, they could become the target of a cyberbully. This might mean they receive abusive emails, texts or comments on Facebook – or that images or videos of them are circulated online without their consent.
Cyberbullies often focus on looks
Many forms of cyberbullying focus on how young people's clothes, hair and body look in the pictures and videos they post online. Being the target of persistent teasing about their appearance can have a detrimental impact on a young person’s self-esteem. If it starts to impact your child's life choices – from the clothes they wear to the pictures they’re willing to share – then take action.
Tackling cyberbullying
Talk with your child about the situation, decide actions to resolve the problem together and help develop online behaviour to protect them from cyberbullies. Much of their life will be conducted online or via their mobile phone, so developing protective strategies to deal with online criticism or bullying is important for lifelong self-esteem.
