How to Keep Children Safe From Cyber Bullies

A desktop computer in the living room allows you to monitor your child's Internet activity.

Although the word "bullying" may bring to mind images of a bully stealing lunch money or physically attacking a victim, the Internet has given bullies the ability to harm their victims in other ways and reach an even wider audience -- and the bullying doesn't stop when the victim gets home from school. Whether by posting threatening messages, lewd or doctored photos, or insults, cyber bullying can damage your child's self-esteem if he is a victim, and deter him from using the Internet even for purely educational purposes. Teaching your child basic rules of Internet safety and monitoring his online activity can decrease the likelihood of having to deal with cyber bullying.

Instructions

1. Restrict your child's Internet use to locations where you can watch. For example, set up an Internet-capable computer in the living room.

2. Teach your child the importance of keeping personal information private, such as phone numbers and addresses. Extend this rule to any site he wishes to visit, including chat rooms, forums, game sites and social networking sites.

3. Monitor your child's activity on social networking sites such as Facebook. Add him as a friend; as embarrassing as it may be to the child, it allows you to keep an eye out for any bullying. Show him how to set his privacy settings to only allow friends to post to his Facebook wall and status. Go to "Account," "Privacy Settings," and click "Customize Settings." Ensure that every option is "Friends Only." Teach your child not to add people he doesn't know personally as friends.

4. Limit the amount of time your child spends on the Internet each day.

5. Invest in a family plan for a prepaid mobile phone network. Allow your child a limited number of minutes for talking and text messaging, and warn him about giving out the number.

6. Teach your child to behave considerately online; on forums and in chat rooms, he should know how to avoid posting insulting messages which can incite retaliation.

7. Tell your child to save a copy of any incident of cyber-bullying; this includes emails, text messages, photos, and videos.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch for signs of cyber-bullying. Some of these include emotional distress after coming offline, withdrawal from friends, and reluctance or fear to use the Internet even when necessary.

References

• New York University Steinhardt; Cyberbullicide, When Victims Can't Escape; Josephine Palmeri; 2011
• KidsHealth; Cyberbullying; Michelle New, Ph.D.; 2009