Cyberbullying has become a global concern nowadays. Young individuals are believed to be more prone to this type of bullying especially in school and in the community.
Parents have the vital role to stop this kind of exposure for their kids. Irish Times said bullying needs to be addressed and stopped since it affects the mental and emotional health of a person.
Father Pat Forde said that one of the biggest contributors to cyberbullying is the technology and the devices that children use nowadays. "From a parent's point of view, it's very hard to buy something that's appropriate for a child. I've done it in the past where I've gone around to phone shops just to see what is available there for young people," Forde added.
He noted that a key step to preventing cyberbullying is to limit the usage of devices among children and to monitor their activity online. "Parents should not be letting their kids take their phones to their bedrooms at night," the father added.
On the other hand, Parents.com also advised moms and dads to educate their children on cyberbullying. Messages sent to kids that appear to be a way to bully them should not be deleted but documented for reference.
It was also noted that parents should never blame their kids for getting bullied. Parents are encouraged to support and understand their children then suggest a solution to their problem.
StopCyberbullying.org also said that if the bullying happens in school, parents need to inform school officials or the guidance counsellor of the incident. It should be properly addressed to avoid similar instances in the future.
Children who have been bullied also need to feel that they are loved and appreciated. Parents talk and spend time with their kids to give them assurance that they are not alone in dealing with their problems.
Some kids who do not receive proper attention from their parents commit suicide, as per StopCyberbullying.org. It noted that in Japan a young girl ended her life after getting bullied online.
