Courtesy of Eron_gpsfs (via Flickr)
When I was growing up, bullies were mostly confined to school grounds. But technology and easy access to the Internet means bullies now have even more access to their targets.
Cyber bullying (online harassment, etc.) can cause depression, low self-esteem, and even suicide. Unfortunately, bullying often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. The Massachusetts teen who recently took her life after being bullied on Facebook is one tragic example. But this tragedy is also a reminder that more needs to be done to stop bullying, of any kind, before it starts.
Now is a good time for parents and kids to talk about cyber bullying and take some steps to prevent it:
- Talk with your child about their online activity and cyber bullying
- Keep your home computer(s) in a busy area of your house
- Make sure that you know their screen names and passwords
- Consider installing parental control software
- Emphasize that you won’t take away computer or phone privileges – this is the main reason kids don’t tell adults when they’re cyber bullied
Visit The Beehive for more information and how to protect your family online.
