Cyberbullying On The Rise: Tips For Parents
Cyber bullying involves the use of technology such as e-mail, instant messaging, the publishing of defamatory personal web sites, and online personal polling web sites that are used to support conscious, willful, deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by one or more people with the intent to harm others. On-line harassment or threatening is Cyber bullying and it is increasing in Kentucky and all over the world.
The Kentucky Center for School Safety has published tips for parents when you suspect or know your child is being cyberbullied.
• Strongly encourage your child not to respond to the cyber bullying. • Do not erase the messages or pictures. Save these as evidence. • Try to identify the individual doing the cyber bullying. Even if the cyberbully
is anonymous (e.g., is using a fake name or someone else’s identity) there may be a way to track them through your Internet Service Provider. If the cyber bullying is criminal (or if you suspect that it may be), contact the po- lice and ask them to do the tracking.
• Sending inappropriate language may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of e-mail services, Internet Service Providers, web sites, and cell phone com- panies. Consider contacting these providers and filing a complaint.
• If the cyber bullying is coming through e-mail or a cell phone, it may be possible to block future contact from the cyberbully. Of course, the cyber- bully may assume a different identity and continue the bullying.
• Contact your school. If the cyber bullying is occurring through your school district’s Internet system, school administrators have an obligation to inter- vene. Even if the cyber bullying is occurring off campus, make your school administrators aware of the problem. They may be able to help you resolve the cyber bullying or be watchful for face-to-face bullying.
• Consider contacting the cyberbully’s parents. These parents may be very concerned to learn that their child has been cyber bullying others, and they may effectively put a stop to the bullying. On the other hand, these parents may react very badly to your contacting them. So, proceed cautiously. If you decide to contact a cyberbully’s parents, communicate with them in writing — not face-to-face. Present proof of the cyber bullying (e.g., copies of an e-mail message) and ask them to make sure the cyber bullying stops.
• Consider contacting an attorney in cases of serious cyber bullying. In some circumstances, civil law permits victims to sue a bully or his or her parents in order to recover damages.
• Contact the police if cyber bullying involves acts such as: • Threats of violence
• Extortion • Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages • Harassment, stalking, or hate crimes • Child pornography
If you are uncertain if cyber bullying violates your jurisdiction’s criminal laws, con- tact your local police, who will advise you.
