When I was in high school, I was tormented by bullying.
I wasn’t cool, and I had only a couple of people that I could call my friends.
To place it nicely, I was “unique” in my style and thoughts. There was one thing that made me feel better though, and that was knowing I could go home and not be bullied.
This comfort allowed me to focus on school as well as hang out with the few close friends that I did have.
Be that as it may, now everything has changed with recent technology.
Bullying through text messages is a form of cyberbullying.
Smartphones, group chats, social media, and online games can allow bullying to continue long after the school day ends. According to the CDC’s information on bullying, more than one in six high school students reported being bullied electronically during the previous year, including through texting and social media.
In light of technology advancing so quickly, it is hard for us as guardians regardless of what age or stage we are in life to understand precisely what our children are experiencing inside and outside of school.
Kids can nowadays experience bullying 24/7 on account of easy access to smartphones. Children can now stay connected through their cell phones throughout the day, so find out more about what your child is doing on their smartphone and who they might be texting.
Essencially, children can be bullied 24/7 through texting, calling, and online networking. I cannot fathom going home, and instead of experiencing the safety that I experienced at my home, they still feel all the negative emotions that come with being bullied.
If you are a parent that thinks their child may be getting bullied, there are a few things that you can do to help stop the bullying.
In this article, I will cover the following:
What You Can Do to Stop the Bullying
The most important step you can take as a parent in any circumstance is always to ask them how their day was.
Ensure that they feel comfortable enough with you to tell you what is on their mind. This step is important especially if you feel that your child is being bullied.
Sometimes a child may feel scared or embarrassed to admit that they are being bullied. They may be getting threatened or they may not want you to know that they are being picked on at school. Having open communication with your child is the most important stride to take with your child.
Watch for your child becoming upset after checking messages, avoiding friends, or suddenly changing how much they use their phone. This can be one warning sign of cyberbullying, so check in and ask what is happening.
Another step that you can take is to look into who may be bullying them. A social media profile may offer clues, but an unfamiliar phone number can be harder to recognize.
Save Evidence of the Bullying
Before anything is deleted, save screenshots, phone numbers, usernames, dates, voicemails, and the full conversation whenever possible. StopBullying.gov’s guidance on reporting cyberbullying recommends that families do not respond to or forward cyberbullying messages.
Keep the evidence, report the behavior to the platform or service provider, and block the person who is bullying your child.
If your child is being harassed and you aren’t sure who is contacting them, a reverse phone lookup may help you find possible information connected to that number, such as a name or address history.
National Cellular Directory offers a free daily lookup window, when registered members can currently run two premium phone or name searches at no cost.
Pro Tip: National Cellular Directory is not a consumer reporting agency. Its information cannot be used to determine eligibility for credit, insurance, employment, housing, or another purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Decide How to Report the Bullying
With this material you can decide what to do from there, whether it be contacting their parents, going to the school principal, reporting the account to the platform, or whatever other civil methods that you choose.
Involve law enforcement when messages include threats, stalking, sexual content, or immediate danger.
Remember that two wrongs don’t make a right, and showing your son or daughter that you are an adult by being mature throughout the process will set an example for them to follow.
There are also anti-bullying apps out there that can help and give information to children and parents who are affected in any way by bullying.
No app can replace a conversation with your child, saved evidence, and a report to the school or appropriate service provider. Monitoring should be explained clearly and used in a way that is appropriate for your child’s age and safety needs.
It is hard being a parent with this rapidly advancing society, and it may be tough to understand what your child is experiencing.
However, by taking action and always communicating with your kid, you can help them to live happy, productive lives.