Cyber-bullying: What Parents Should Know

 Do you ever worry about your children getting beaten up on the school playground? Probably not, but many of us wonder if our children are being bullied online or having their reputations scorched on Facebook. Cyber-bullying is becoming an increasing source of anxiety for parents and the numbers show this behavior is quite common among tweens and teens.Here are some revealing statistics:  

  • 58% of 4th-8th graders haven't told their parents or an adult  about something mean/hurtful that happened online.
  • 42% of these kids have been bullied while online. 
  •  35% have been threatened online.
  • 21% received mean or threatening text/online  messages.
  •  53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person.
            Based on 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students grades 4-8
Warning signs of cyber-bullying:
  • Your child's behavior has changed dramatically
    (withdrawal, depression, abusing alcohol/drugs, dropping grades, violent outbursts).
  • They're spending more time online or texting.
  • Your cell phone bills suddenly escalate because of additional web or text usage.
  • They become very secretive about computer usage or text messaging.
While there is no substitute for parental involvement, it's impossible to guard the computer 24 hours a day.  We recommend using internet monitoring software which takes screenshots, shows all e-mails, passwords, IM chats and every keystroke. The software will alert you via e-mail when certain words are typed on the child's computer. This software is available at:www.shustersolutions.com For parent tips, visit our webpage, "How to Talk to Your Teen" and listen to the TTT CD, "Internet Safety Today", featuring Richard Shuster, MSW and President of Shuster Solutions (www.shustersolutions.com). If you'd like to be alerted to future Teens Talk Truth presentations on Internet Safety and other topics, please send your e-mail address to: info@teenstalktruth.com.