How to Take Action Against Cyber Bullying
There are a variety of ways in which children can be exposed to danger or negative influences on the Internet, from malevolent adults posing as children to unhealthy addictions to online technologies. But sometimes, the greatest danger can come from kids their own age. Cyber bullying can happen anywhere and at any time, unlike conventional bullying, which is limited to the classroom or any place the bully and victim physically interact.
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Identification
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Cyber bullying, like conventional bullying, is the act of making negative comments about an individual, threatening them or harassing them. However, cyber bullying takes place entirely online. Cyber bullying can happen through any online medium, including email, Facebook or even text messages. Anyone can be a cyber bully, but the term typically refers to one youth bullying another using online tools. The same sorts of behavior on the part of an adult can be classified as a more serious action, such as cyber stalking.
Identification
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Identifying the effects of cyber bullying in your child or someone you know is an effective first step to taking action against it. Check to see if a child has become markedly withdrawn or uninterested in social action recently. If a child is exhibiting uncharacteristic moodiness or sadness, which are common cyber bullying victim behaviors, check to see if these feelings occur after Internet use. Look for other signs that bullying or undue stress may be occurring, including trouble sleeping or loss of appetite.
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Before It Starts
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If your child has not been the victim of a cyber bully or has not cyber bullied someone else, you can take steps to prevent this behavior before it happens. Know your child's online habits and which sites your child frequents. Online circles are just as influential as the physical circles of friends with whom children hang out. Check into your children's friends online and be sure that your child isn't receiving the sort of negative attention that could lead to cyber bullying, or to becoming a cyber bully. You can employ Internet browser parental controls to limit which sites a child can access, or your can purchase parental monitoring software to further keep tabs on your child's Internet usage.
Combating Cyber Bullying
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If you find that your child or a child you supervise is actively participating in cyber bullying another individual, there are some strategies you can use to address the problem. In the classroom, teachers can spend a day discussing cyber bullying to educate children about the phenomenon and the damage it can do. Access to cyber bullying vehicles an be curtailed, both at home and in the classroom, and some software has controls you can use to block the bullying party. If your child is a victim of cyber bullying, report the bully to school authorities, the child's parents or law enforcement, if the case seems severe enough. Chances are that, if the child is bullying your child, he may also be bullying others. Failure to curb a cyber bully empowers her and can lead to further harm to your child and others. Cyber bullies may be helped by anger management classes and relaxation sessions or activities, such as meditation and yoga.
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