How to Stop Bullying Online

Online bullying, also known as online social cruelty, can be as devastating as real-world bullying. Children and young adults who have experienced online bullying can become depressed, despondent, antisocial and even suicidal. Preventing and dealing with online bullying is not easy, but it is necessary and a little knowledge can help any adult intervene in a meaningful and productive way.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Change the environment. If you are an educator or the parent of a child who experiences online bullying, work with the school district to establish rules about online interaction and responses to online bullying. Design programs that highlight the cruelty and "uncool" nature of online bullying.

2. Increase supervision. Online bullying is wrong and children know it. Actively supervising sites where children use computers cuts down on the opportunity for children to bully online without getting caught.

3. Be consistent. Though parents and school officials are pressed for time already, it is important that a set response to bullying of all types be established and maintained. It only takes one exception to unravel an anti-bullying program.

4. Open dialogue. If you are a parent, talk to your child about how you were bullied or how you may have felt after your bullying hurt someone. If you are a teacher or administrator, set aside time in classes to talk about online bullying and its effects. It is important to stress the real impact words can have on everyone.

Resources

• US Department of Health; Stop Bullying Website