{"id":17027,"date":"2015-10-24T07:50:36","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T00:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=17027"},"modified":"2015-10-24T07:50:36","modified_gmt":"2015-10-24T00:50:36","slug":"how-to-handle-cyberbullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-cyberbullying\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Handle Cyberbullying"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cyberbullying<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since October is National Bullying Prevention Month<\/a>, we wanted to cover cyberbullying, which, unfortunately, is a growing trend on the Internet, fueled by social media.<\/p>\n

Last month we discussed the need for parents to monitor their kids’ phones<\/a>.  Digital monitoring should be an ongoing responsibility of all parents; their kids’ emotional stability may count on it.  The focus is not that the parent should “spy” on their children, but instead, identify friends and topics to talk to your children about.<\/p>\n

Before phones, there has never been a good way to get a handle on the thoughts going through your child’s head.  With cellphones and in particular texting and social media accounts, there’s a whole dialogue to not only review, but see how your child reacts to other kids’ comments.<\/p>\n

Monitoring your kids’ phones opens a myriad of topics to discuss with your child, creating an open dialogue to talk to your child about certain situations and possibly prevent cyberbullying.  <\/p>\n

Parents must be proactive.  According to TeenSafe <\/a>CEO, Rawdon Messenger,<\/p>\n

Only 1  in 10  children will tell an adult if [cyberbullying] occurs.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to a recent CNN Study, Being Thirteen<\/a>, 94% of parents underestimate the amount of fighting that is occurring over social media channels.  CNN’s study found that…<\/p>\n

a child\u2019s self-worth is often closely connected to their digital interactions, they are more psychologically affected by online conflict than many parents understand. <\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

The study went on to say that parents who kept a close eye on their child’s interactions online greatly effected their child’s psychological well-being.<\/p>\n

Cyberbullying can affect your children in two main ways…<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Rumors spread about them<\/li>\n
  2. Mean or harmful comments about them<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     With 81% of kids saying that cyberbullying is easier to do online than in person and 90% of kids who say they’ve seen bullying online but ignored it, cyberbullying continues to be a growing epidemic.<\/p>\n

    Cyberbullying if left unchecked can lead to:<\/strong><\/p>\n