Cyber Bullying can be strongly associated with “school bullying”, the only difference is that cyber bullying uses modern communication technology to harass or humiliate its victim. The usual forms of cyber bullying include false rumours, direct threats, damaging and humiliating photographs, and hate groups.
According to studies, more than 40% of young people who uses the internet experiences or have encountered cyber bullying. There have been also several crimes recorded and linked to cyber bullying. Most of them have resulted to the victim’s injury or in worst cases, their death through suicide.
But why is this online threat so rampant? Well, blame it primarily to the lack of knowledge of internet users. How? Because many of the internet users are probably not aware that when they use the internet, they should assume that everything that goes with it is public. To elaborate further, the personal information that the user posted on the internet can easily be retrieved by cyber bullies and used against the owner itself. This is common if the internet user’s profile is not set in private.
Other than unsecured posting of personal information, there are several other ways in which one can be victimized by cyber bullying. And while getting cyber bullied is something that no one can control, preventing it from ever occurring to your children is quite achievable.
Here are some ways that can help keep your children from getting cyber bullied.
1. Make your children understand the value and risks involved when they share personal information online.
2. Educate and warn them about the consequences that may happen if their personal information is retrieved by the wrong person.
3. Always be there for your child. Watch and guide your child as much as you can to prevent the worst things from happening. Let your child feel your love and support so that whatever happens, he or she will be strong enough to face it.