By Shaun A Maxwell
Sadly, it appears that cyber bullying isn't going to stop anytime soon. In fact, it gets worse every day. Throughout history we've always had bullies and you probably experienced at least one schoolyard bully yourself. But cyber bullying is different. Cyber bullying is much more harmful. And if your child uses the Internet, there's a good chance he could become a victim.
What is cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying is harassment on a scale much larger than the playground or school cafeteria. It takes place on the Internet, using sites like Facebook and MySpace or chat rooms associated with gaming sites. Bullies also use text messaging to broadcast messages to all their contacts. As you can imagine, with all the options we have for instant, worldwide communication these days, a bully's sphere of influence extends well beyond the edges of the playground.
What makes cyber bullying so prevalent is the fact that the bully can operate anonymously and cast a wider net. Not only does he bully your child, but he drags other bullies into the fray. And because he's hiding behind a computer screen, with other bullies backing him up, he feels even more empowered to terrorize your child. And it might surprise you to know that by the time they hit middle school, girls are the biggest offenders.
What can you do?
Almost 95% of all children between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet on a daily basis. Sometimes for hours at a time. In a recent survey, more than 20% of these teens reported they'd experienced some type of cyber bullying, and those numbers are increasing.
The effects of this type of harassment are similar to the feelings you had when you were in school - anger and humiliation - but there's one big difference. Because of the Internet, today's bully can be much more vicious. They can send your child's picture all over the world, with devastating results. The news is filled with young people who have committed suicide because they were victims of cyber bullies.
The most important thing for you to do is be aware. Pay attention to your child's behavior. If he typically spends every afternoon chatting online and he suddenly stops, there may be something wrong. If he's avoiding text messages or you notice emotional changes, show your support and find out what's wrong.
Make sure your child understands how important it is that he keep his personal information off the Internet. Including his pictures. Once something is posted online it never disappears and it's out there for everyone in the world to see.
The best thing your child can do is ignore cyber bullying. Just like that schoolyard bully who bothered you, today's bullies are also looking for attention. Unfortunately, if your child responds to their harassment online that just invites millions of others to join in the fray.
Sadly, it appears that cyber bullying isn't going to stop anytime soon. In fact, it gets worse every day. Throughout history we've always had bullies and you probably experienced at least one schoolyard bully yourself. But cyber bullying is different. Cyber bullying is much more harmful. And if your child uses the Internet, there's a good chance he could become a victim.
What is cyber bullying?
Cyber bullying is harassment on a scale much larger than the playground or school cafeteria. It takes place on the Internet, using sites like Facebook and MySpace or chat rooms associated with gaming sites. Bullies also use text messaging to broadcast messages to all their contacts. As you can imagine, with all the options we have for instant, worldwide communication these days, a bully's sphere of influence extends well beyond the edges of the playground.
What makes cyber bullying so prevalent is the fact that the bully can operate anonymously and cast a wider net. Not only does he bully your child, but he drags other bullies into the fray. And because he's hiding behind a computer screen, with other bullies backing him up, he feels even more empowered to terrorize your child. And it might surprise you to know that by the time they hit middle school, girls are the biggest offenders.
What can you do?
Almost 95% of all children between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet on a daily basis. Sometimes for hours at a time. In a recent survey, more than 20% of these teens reported they'd experienced some type of cyber bullying, and those numbers are increasing.
The effects of this type of harassment are similar to the feelings you had when you were in school - anger and humiliation - but there's one big difference. Because of the Internet, today's bully can be much more vicious. They can send your child's picture all over the world, with devastating results. The news is filled with young people who have committed suicide because they were victims of cyber bullies.
The most important thing for you to do is be aware. Pay attention to your child's behavior. If he typically spends every afternoon chatting online and he suddenly stops, there may be something wrong. If he's avoiding text messages or you notice emotional changes, show your support and find out what's wrong.
Make sure your child understands how important it is that he keep his personal information off the Internet. Including his pictures. Once something is posted online it never disappears and it's out there for everyone in the world to see.
The best thing your child can do is ignore cyber bullying. Just like that schoolyard bully who bothered you, today's bullies are also looking for attention. Unfortunately, if your child responds to their harassment online that just invites millions of others to join in the fray.
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