- Get involved. “Some studies have reported children whose parents monitored their online activities were less likely to disclose personal information, less likely to see out inappropriate sites, and less likely to conduct chat conversations with strangers” (Mesch 387).
- Help your child block the screen names of the cyberbullies. Some children feel like they have to deal with the issue of cyberbullying alone. Help your children understand they have the power to block cyberbullies and help them do so.
- Educate your child about what is appropriate to share, and the risks of interacting on a social networking site. Individuals who share personal information are more likely to be bullied than those who do not.
- Know how much time your child is spending online. It has been proven that if the computer is in a shared space, the amount of time spent online is drastically less than if it is in the child’s bedroom. Also, if the computer is in a shared space, you can monitor their behavior online better than if your child has access to a computer in their bedroom.
- Know what your child is doing online. Having a profile in a social networking site, watching clips on YouTube, and participating in chat rooms correlate to a higher risk of online bullying.
- Establish rules for interacting with people online. Rules for interacting with people should be the same both in person and online.
- Model appropriate technology use. Your child looks to you as an example, so model and demonstrate for them what is appropriate.
- Look for warning signs of unusual behavior. If the internet becomes an obsession or they suddenly avoid it completely, this is a sign they are somehow involved in cyberbullying.
- Keep an open line of communication with your child. Talk to them about who they talk to online or through text messaging.
- Educate, empower, and support your child when dealing with technology. This begins with your education. Congratulations on taking the first step to educate yourself about the dangers of technology use. Pass this education along to your child, talk to them, and ask them questions. These are the first steps to both prevent and stop cyberbullying.
Next: More helpful resources about cyberbullying