Bullying comes in many forms and cyberbullying is the most notorious of all. You can be bullied by a stranger online, hiding under a fake profile. Nowadays our kids have access to many devices they use to access the internet – mobile phones, tablets, iPads, and computers. Since they are very vibrant on social media platforms, they are also exposing themselves widely to potential bullies.
Sudden changes in your child’s behavior may mean they are getting bullied online. This article explores signs that may show your child is a victim of cyberbullying and what you can do about it.
What is cyberbullying?
There are many definitions of cyberbullying but to keep it simple, cyberbullying is any action meant to hurt someone else happening through the internet and on different devices. The intention could be to threaten, embarrass, humiliate, anger, or harass another person.
Cyberbullying is done through sending or sharing hurtful messages, videos, or embarrassing photos. The abundance and accessibility of electronic devices among our children make it hard for them to escape cyberbullying. There is a chance that it may have happened to you as a parent at some point in time as well.
Here are the most common signs your children may be a victim of cyberbullying
They become secretive
\It is typical for kids (especially teenagers) to spend time in their rooms scrolling and chatting with their friends on social media. However, excessive secrecy may point to an underlying issue. They may become withdrawn from other family members, preferring to spend time alone.
They stop enjoying group activities with others and look reserved most of the time. And not the good kind of reserved. They will seem deep in thought with something weighing heavily on their mind.
They develop low self-esteem
Cyber-bullying, especially in instances of body-shaming may result in your child developing low self-esteem. Their confidence is shattered, and you will notice how uncomfortable they are when speaking with others or socializing with others. This may happen if someone online mentions something sensitive and hurtful to them.
They start being conscious of their bodies and way of life and comparing themselves with others. They start feeling worthless and their esteem is eroded.
Unusual behavior with devices
Something is wrong when you walk into a room and your child quickly turns the screen off. When they try to hide their devices from view when using them, they are embarrassed about something. When they suddenly stop using their phones or other devices to go online, chances are that they are being bullied. Study how your kids behave when on their devices when you are around.
Depression
Depression may come in many forms but in cyberbullying, your child may start exhibiting some behaviors that may suggest they are depressed. For instance, they may begin to have unexplained mood swings ranging from anger, restlessness, and sadness, among others. They will lack appetite and may lose weight over time. These mood swings happen almost immediately after they interact with their devices.
Suicidal or harmful thoughts
Suicidal thoughts or attempts stemming from cyberbullying are on the rise in the US. This is an extreme step, a level above depression and it is important to identify it early. Suicidal thoughts can make your kids harm themselves.
Struggling in school
A sudden drop in performance and grades in school could point to an underlying problem. If your child was performing well in school then all of a sudden they start struggling, investigate the root cause of the problem. There is a possibility they are undergoing bullying and this affects their performance at school.
Anxiety and nervousness
When your kid becomes jumpy whenever they receive a text, email, or message on their device, they are probably getting bullied online. They refuse to discuss what they do on their phones and other devices. When their mood changes to anxiety or anger after receiving these texts and emails, something is wrong with how they interact with others online.
Keeping away from social events
Besides shying away from activities you do as a family, a child who is being cyberbullied generally keeps off from any social event. They do not feel comfortable around other people. Sometimes they delete their social media profiles to stay in the dark and avoid people bullying them online. They start acting uneasy and reserved around strangers.
They do not like going to school
There is a high chance that your child may be bullied by kids they school with or interact with at school. Because of this reason, most victims tend to keep away from places that trigger their anxiety. If the bullies are in school, your child will try to create all kinds of excuses to avoid going to school. They fear facing the people who bully them. If your kid comes up with baseless reasons for trying to stay at home, investigate further to understand the underlying problem.
Changing sleeping patterns
Kids undergoing bullying may have trouble sleeping. In some cases, they may oversleep or younger kids find themselves regressing to bedwetting due to the pressure they receive from online bullies.
What to do when your child is being cyberbullied
When you notice your child is a victim of cyberbullying, you need to be there for them as a support system. This is when they need you the most. Your reassurance that everything will be okay will go a long way here. Here are examples of actions you can take when your child is a victim of cyberbullying;
- Ask them not to respond
- Tell them not to engage these bullies as it only intensifies the abuse they face. If possible, they should block these bullies on their profiles and report their accounts to the relevant authorities. Blocking stops the bullying process and allows you to take measures to reverse any damage that could have been inflicted on the child.
- Monitor their social media usage
- Monitoring internet usage is important, especially for young kids. Prevent their exposure to sites and apps that may cause them harm. Use apps to alert you whenever inappropriate language is used or whenever they access inappropriate websites. This reduces the risk of exposure.
- Offer support
- Be the support system when your kids get cyberbullied. They are already going through a hard time and your support could mean a lot. Assure them that you know how they feel and promise to be with them every step. You may relate what they are going through to something that happened to you in the past if you went through a similar thing. Being supportive makes them understand that their issue is not isolated and they can move from it like you did.
- Notify relevant authorities
- When cyberbullying starts to go out of control, it is time to report the issue to the relevant authorities. Help your kid gather evidence by taking screenshots of texts, photos, and other content the bully may have sent.
- Take these materials to the police or relevant authorities and let them deal with the issue. You may need to provide professional help for your kids to take care of any emotional or psychological torture they may have endured.
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