We can define cyberbullying as harassing, threatening, embarrassing someone, or posting targeted sharings about that person via technology. Cyberbullying actions, which are more common among children and young adults, can also be observed in adults. In such cases, serious legal sanctions are imposed on adults, including prison sentences.
Almost every adult would remember their highschool bully. How they would try to avoid any interactions with them in the hallways or how they would sneak in and out of class not to encounter them.
The difference between cyberbullying and bullying is that there is no need for physical force or face-to-face communication for cyberbullying as there is with bullying. Anyone using a device with an internet connection can perform a cyberbullying action, thus children can be more vulnerable to it. Bullies can be anonymous, as well as close friends of children and young people.s
Cyberbullying statistics show that 1 out of every 4 children is exposed to cyberbullying, while 1 out of 6 children know that they have been involved in such actions. The effects of cyberbullying can be tremendous and educating your children on this matter is important.
IMPORTANT: In the era of the internet, we can’t completely deprive children of technology. However, we can introduce them to its advantages by directing them to safe practices.
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There is no doubt that children love social media, however, social media and cyberbullying are closely linked. Such platforms make it easier for cyberbullies to take harmful actions. Here are some of the mediums where your child can encounter a cyberbully:
Cyberbullying on social media platforms is easier for the cyberbullies and more harmful for the victims for various reasons. The most common ones are:
Teaching your children how to use social media and the internet in a more efficient and careful way is important to keep them safe. This will not only keep them safe from cyberbullies, but it will also protect them from other dangers of the internet such as addiction. Read our article Positive and Negative Technology impacts on kids - Internet safety tips to learn about internet safety practices for your children.
There are various types of cyberbullying, but they all have one intention - hurting someone. Knowing the types of dangers that your child can come across will help you protect them from it. Therefore, let’s dive right into it.
Exclusion is the act of leaving someone out on purpose and is one of the most common ways of teen cyberbullying. For example, your child might be excluded/uninvited to groups or parties while they see other friends being included, or left out of conversations that involve mutual friends.
Harassment is a broad category that contains many types of cyberbullying. It generally refers to a sustained and constant pattern of hurtful or threatening online messages sent with the intention of doing harm to someone.
Outing, also known as doxing, is the act of openly revealing sensitive or personal information or images about someone (without their consent) for malicious purposes. The effects of cyberbullying which are based on outing can be severe, especially among teenagers.
Trickery is similar to outing, with an added element of deception. In such situations, the bully will befriend their target and gain their trust. Once achieved, they abuse that trust and share the victim’s secrets and private information with others.
Cyberstalking is a form of cyberbullying that can extend to threats of physical harm to the child being targeted. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous. It can include monitoring, false accusations, threats, and is often accompanied by offline stalking. It is a criminal offense and can result in serious consequences such as jail time for the perpetrator.
One of the most common types of cyberbullying is fraping. A bully uses your child’s social media accounts to post inappropriate content under their name. For example, a bully can post inappropriate content about your child’s teacher or another classmate through your child’s profile. Your child will be the one to blame for such actions when in fact they have no involvement with it.
Masquerading happens when a bully creates a made-up profile or online identity with the sole purpose of cyberbullying someone. This could involve creating a fake email account, a fake social media profile, and selecting a new identity and photos to fool the victim. In these cases, the bully tends to be someone the victim knows quite well.
Dissing is the act of a bully spreading cruel information about their target through public posts or private messages to either ruin their reputation or relationships with other people. In these situations, the bully tends to have a personal relationship with the victim, either as an acquaintance or as a friend.
We are all familiar with trolls. Bullies seek out to intentionally upset others by posting provocative comments online. Usually, such actions come from people we don’t even know. It is important to teach your child to avoid interaction (via comments or by other means) with strangers in order to avoid trolling.
Similar to trolling, flaming is the act of provoking someone through comments and direct messages. However, it can be more inflammatory because the main purpose is to lure the person into an online fight.
In the world of technology and the internet, it is important to teach children what to do when they experience unfavorable actions. Therefore, strong mental integrity and the ability of analytical thinking are some of the key elements that will provide guidance.
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The effects of cyberbullying can be very harmful, especially for children and teenagers. Cyberbullying causes significant emotional and psychological distress. These kinds of actions can cause children with anxiety, fear, depression, and low self-esteem. They may also experience physical symptoms and a lack of success at school.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, you should look for ways on how to deal with cyberbullying, which we will cover further in the article.
Being a target of cyberbullies, especially if there is more than one of them, like a group of friends or the whole class, can be crushing for a child. The stress of dealing with cyberbullying can cause kids to feel like the situation is more than they can handle.
What is the impact of cyberbullying on the victims? They feel powerless and vulnerable, therefore, victims of cyberbullying tend to feel unsafe.
This is because, as we mentioned before, cyberbullying doesn’t have a specific time nor place. Unlike bullying, children are still vulnerable to cyberbullying through computers or cellphones while at home. They don’t have a safe place where they can escape from it.
Moreover, most cyberbullies prefer staying anonymous, although they may be someone we know. Not knowing who you’re interfering with can cause fear and other terrifying emotions.
Children are well aware that when something is on the internet, it’s there forever. This causes them to feel an endless humiliation.
If the cyberbullying is not directed personally through messages but posted publicly, having others know that they are being bullied can cause shame and humiliation for the child.
Cyberbullies often attack their victims where they are most insecure, such as body shaming. This won’t only hurt emotionally but can cause physical harm as well.
For instance, a girl that is called fat may start unhealthy crash diets. Children may do almost anything to find a way to stop cyberbullying.
Becoming vengeful is one of the psychological effects of cyberbullying. Some victims can show anger and feel a need for revenge when they are cyberbullied. It is important to teach your child to forgive a bully and prevent them from becoming vengeful.
Moreover, cyberbullying facts show that such reactions from the victim can provoke the cyberbully, which can result in even more harassment.
One of the most harmful effects of cyberbullying is that they become disinterested in school and other activities. Cyberbullying statistics show that victims often have much higher rates of absenteeism at school than non-bullied kids. They try to avoid interfering with the kids bullying them or they feel embarrassed and humiliated by the messages that were shared publicly, therefore they skip school.
Even if they attend their classes, children who are victims of cyberbullying find it difficult to concentrate and focus on school because of the ongoing anxiety and stress. As a result, they have lower grades, and sometimes, they even drop out of school or lose interest in continuing their education.
The anxiety and stress that cyberbullying can cause in children can be very exhausting. Children experiencing such situations can have trouble concentrating and focusing. This can also cause great harm to their educational success.
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Children who are victims of cyberbullying can be excluded at school and by others. This can be very painful for the victim because teenagers can be very cruel at that age.
Furthermore, it is usually recommended to go offline to avoid interaction with the cyberbully. However, the most common communication method for teenagers is via online platforms. Blocking online communication can make them feel even more isolated.
The effects of cyberbullying on mental health are unavoidable and depression is one of them. Victims of cyberbullying can experience anxiety, depression and other stress-related conditions.
Along with mental effects, there are also physical effects of cyberbullying. Children who are cyberbullied often experience headaches, stomachaches or other physical illnesses.
The accumulated stress can also cause stress-related conditions like stomach ulcers and skin conditions. In addition, children who are being cyberbullied can develop eating and sleeping disorders.
Unfortunately, cyberbullying increases the risk of suicide. Children that are constantly tormented through various platforms tend to feel hopeless. The pain they experience increases so much that they begin to think that suicide is the only escape.
If you or your child are having suicidal thoughts, reach for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call your local hotline.
Even though awareness of cyberbullying is growing each day, parents need to know how to prevent it, since these actions can have devastating emotional effects on children and young people.
Here are 6 easy steps on how to prevent or stop cyberbullying so you can help your children through this difficult experience.
When children become victims of cyberbullying, they experience having difficulties in speaking to their families or teachers. They think that if they tell what is going on, their access to the internet and technology will be restricted.
You should talk about cyberbullying with your children, and you should mention that it is common and something that can happen to anyone.
Always teach your children about the positive effects of the internet and technology. Talk about the fundamentals of safe use of the internet and follow their actions in the digital world.
Another option: To keep your child away from online dangers, you can install specific software or a family filter on your computer and encourage him/her to spend time with age-appropriate software and games. Check out our article, Cybersecurity for Kids, for detailed information.
IMPORTANT: Choose apps that offer age-appropriate and practical benefits to help your child enjoy screen time.
MentalUP, described as a pedagogical product by the Mental Health Association, ensures that your child stays away from uncontrolled content and also develops thinking and learning skills.
Don't just follow your child's online usage habits, be in constant contact with schools and teachers. Attend the parent meetings and ask teachers for their observations.
Don't forget to chat with your child's friends. Children can easily share the big problems (that they can’t share with their parents and adults) with their friends.
Keep track of your child's social media posts. These posts can give you ideas about your child's problems and their inner world.
Think if there is another meaning behind their messages and posts. Always keep in touch with his/her personal profile, even if your child doesn't want it. Get involved with their list of friends and become a loyal follower.
Do not abuse this privilege. Don't comment and share about your child. In the same way, do not interpret his/her shares. Be a ghost follower and use the advantage of being invisible.
Is your child in trouble with a cyberbully? Immediately stop the bully and keep your child out of contact with this person. If the bully is someone familiar, share the problem with his/her family and school management, or the guidance service.
A problem that seems insignificant from the outside can be very important for victims of cyberbullying. If you feel that some events you experienced affected your child, you should definitely contact professional support.
We are sure that they don’t want this at all, but children up to a certain age should be prevented from the unlimited use of technology and the internet. But be careful! Do not completely prohibit technology for your child: Only apply limitations.
Technology and the internet are no longer what they were at our young ages. All of your children’s friends enjoy the blessings of technology while having fun, so do not cause them to be deprived of this pleasure. Just keep it under control - limit activity and usage times.
Reporting cyberbullies is important to ensure the safety of children. Here are the steps that you can take to make sure that the perpetrator faces the consequences of cyberbullying.
Here are the first steps to take that are recommended by the U.S. authorities.
Most social media platforms and internet service providers do not tolerate cyberbullying! Follow these steps to inform them of the violation of the terms of services.
Cyberbullying is considered a crime when it involves these activities:
The laws and legislations on cyberbullying may vary depending on countries and states. If you’re not sure and asking yourself: “Is cyberbullying illegal?” consult a legal expert for additional guidance.
Cyberbullying at school can cause an unhealthy environment and it often can be linked to in-person bullying.
Let's not forget to look at the other side of the coin: Your child can also be a cyberbully! It is a pity for every parent to learn that his or her child displays bad behavior. However, if there is such a problem, you should take action and find the right solutions to cyberbullying instead of avoiding the problem and waiting for a spontaneous recovery. Here is a list of steps to consider when helping your child change their behavior:
Parents who find out that their child is a cyberbully tend to feel strong emotions like anger, embarrassment and guilt. To focus on their actions, motivation, and needs, keep your thoughts and emotions to yourself as they speak.
Finding ways on how to deal with cyberbullying is hard no matter which side of the coin you're on. While deciding on your approach, you have to consider your child’s age, the length of time the cyberbullying has been going on, the severity of the situation, and so on.
Is it enough that you handle this situation on your own, or do you need extra help? Evaluate your situation and decide whether or not you have to extend the scope.
The conversation that will take place should be in a calm environment with all focus on the child/teen and their actions. Keep in mind that you may be the last person to be informed about the cyberbullying (the school and possibly law enforcement may be first responders). If so, step in and coordinate from the point of your involvement.
Why do people cyberbully? There aren’t any excuses for it, however, it is important to understand why your child or teen chose to act in this manner. Try to figure out if there are underlying issues that also need to be addressed.
There may also be measure imposed by their school, their team, or even by the court. Possible measures you can implement:
Limit their time online. If they need to use the internet for homework, supervise their usage.
Grounding children can seem harsh, but giving them the opportunity to think about their actions can be very beneficial. Plus, if they were affected by other cyberbullies, it may be best for them to stay apart for a while.
Building compassion and empathy for the victim is based on gaining a deeper understanding of how damaging cyberbullying can be. Based on your child’s age, teach them the harmful effects of cyberbullying and how they may have hurt someone.
Even if they stop cyberbullying, the process is not over until there has been a change of heart and honest attempts at reparations have been made. Watch closely for any signs of retaliation. Children and teenagers hate getting in trouble and facing consequences so they find it easier to blame the victim instead.