How to respond to Cyberbullying

How to Respond to Cyberbullying

This is the third part of a series on Cyberbullying. In the first week I posted on Understanding Cyberbullying, in the second week we touched on Cyberbullying and Teen Depression and this week we look at how to respond to Cyberbullying.

I encourage you to read both previous posts  if you have any doubt about what cyberbullying is or whether it could be present in your family or friendship circle. .

This post, adapted from the original Kidguard article written by  award winning author Carrie Goldman hopefully will shed some light on Cyberbullying and what we can do to respond to Cyberbullying.

I’ve put links to the original article at the end of the post and more information about Carrie Goldman and her written work on Bullying. If you need more information please have a look at those links!  

How to Respond to Cyberbullying

Schools’ response to Cyberbullying

Some schools claim they are unable to respond to cyberbullying because the online misbehavior often takes place off school property.  But this excuse is no longer valid.

Justin Patchin, Ph.D., of the Cyberbullying Research Center, advises the following standards: schools CAN discipline students if their online expressions result in a “substantial disruption of the learning environment,” or if their actions “infringe upon the rights of another student (to feel safe, comfortable, and supported at school).”

Even if the cyberbullying takes place on sites that kids cannot access during school hours, such as Instagram, YikYak, Snapchat or Twitter, the school can take action if the effects of the cyberbullying spill over into the school environment.

Cyberbullying Intervention:  

Ten Steps to Take

If you end up in a hostile situation, it can feel very overwhelming.  Having a plan can help you restore some control.  Here are the top ten steps you or your child should take in response to being cyberbullied, as recommended in my award-winning book on bullying:

  1. Disengage immediately.  Bullies want a direct reaction, and if you retaliate, this behavior can make you culpable too.
  2. Print out the evidence immediately before others can erase it. Be sure to do this before reporting the bullying. Download copies of any YouTube videos as evidence before the YouTube user who uploaded it can delete it.
  3. Block/delete/ban the bullies.
  4. Report bullying to the site or network on which it occurs.  They may deactivate the bully’s user account.
  5. Consult an attorney to assess if there is a legal case.
  6. Take the proof to the school, the workplace, and if necessary, the police.
  7. Monitor yourself or the target for signs of overwhelming depression or anxiety, and seek out counseling if necessary.
  8. Help a target get involved in the “real world” and see real friends.
  9. Have the target join a support group for kids or adults who have been cyberbullied.
  10. Do not sleep with your phone in your room.
This is the third part of a series on Cyberbullying. In the first week I posted on Understanding Cyberbullying, in the second week we touched on Cyberbullying and Teen Depression and this week we look at how to respond to Cyberbullying.

Digital Allies:

Steps to Take If You Witness A Friend Being Cyberbullied

Kids who click “like” on a mean social media post or who retweet a cruel Tweet are just as guilty as the person who created the content. Here are some tips for how kids can act as an ally instead of as a participant or a bystander.

  • Focus on supporting the person who is being attacked instead of launching a retaliatory attack against the aggressor.  The goal is to make a bullied person feel better, not to start an online war that turns into real-life violence and aggression.
  • Ask your child to reach out to the target and offer empathy or a listening ear.  Even a kind text message makes a huge difference.
  • Have your child take a screen shot of the bullying.  Evidence is critical.
  • Have your child report the bullying to the school.

The most important thing you or your child can do is remind a bullied person that things will eventually improve.  The current scandal of the day will pass, as painful as it feels right now.  You can get through this: you are strong.

More Resources

Click HERE for a link to contact numbers and websites across the world than can offer support if you are under attack.

See more articles: Parent’s online safety guide

Origin Article: https://www.kidguard.com/cell-phone-monitoring-and-gps-tracking/top-10-steps-take-respond-cyberbullying/

About the Carrie Goldman 

Carrie Goldman is the award-­winning author of Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear (Harper Collins, 2013). She travels around the country educating companies, schools and community groups about bullying prevention, intervention, and reconciliation. She also serves as the Curriculum Director for the Pop Culture Hero Coalition