Tips for parents to prevent cyberbullying:
- Be aware of your child's online activities.
- Keep the home computer in a viewable place such as the kitchen.
- Talk to your kids openly about their online activities.
- Tell your children that cyberbullying is unacceptable behavior and can really hurt another person.
- Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting.
- Install filtering programs on your computer.
- Encourage your child not to respond to cyberbullying.
- Review the kids online rules located on the "students" link.
- Contact the police if the cyberbulling involves extortion, violent threats, harrassment, or child pornography. (http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov)
If your child uses the internet or instant messanger ask the following questions:
-
What is(are) your screen name(s) ? Are they portraying
themselves with too much information? (Age, Name, Interests) Or have
chosen too provocative of a screen name? Does the screen name indicate a
negative self view? Don't be surprised if they have several screen names. You
should ask them why. Kids are trying on different personas in cyberspace that
they would never be able to in the physical world.
-
What is in your profile(s)? If they have multiple
screen names, they have a profile associated with each one. Are you comfortable
with the material they posted in there? Do they understand anyone can view it?
Do they understand it is wrong to cyberbully someone in that small window of
information?
-
Who is on your buddy list? Are you comfortable with the
number and the screen names?
-
Do you know each and every person on the list personally? Do
you as the parent know each one personally?
-
Have you ever given your password to a
friend? Many kids are doing this today as a test of trust with their friend.
This is highly dangerous too. Middle school friendships are fickle and quite
often the child's password is sent on to others. You can imagine how a kid
could ruin your child's reputation while pretending to be them
on-line. (www.ryanpatrickhalligan.com)