Be Informed about Cyberbullying

How parents can help stop cyberbullying

Follow these tips to help keep your kids safe from cyberbullying.

• Familiarize yourself with online activities. Learn about the websites, blogs, chat rooms and cyber lingo that your children are using.
• Keep the computer in a common area so you can monitor activities.
• Keep open communication lines with your children so they feel comfortable talking to you about cyberbullying experiences. Let them know that you are there to support them.
• Recognize that online communication is a very important social aspect in your child’s life. Do not automatically remove their online privileges if you find out about a cyberbullying experience.
• Talk to your children about what is acceptable behaviour online and offline. 
• Report any online harassment, physical threats and bullying to your local police or your Internet Service Provider.
• Report any harassment, physical threats and bullying that occurs over your child’s cell phone to your phone service provider. You may have to change the phone number if the problem does not stop.