Prevention Tips for Parents
- www.cyberbullying.us <http://www.cyberbullying.us>
1.) Establish that all rules for interacting with people in real life also apply for interacting online or through cell phones. Convey that cyber bullying inflicts harm and causes pain in the real world as well as in cyberspace.
2.) Educate your children about appropriate internet-based behaviors. Explain to them the problems that can be created when technology is misused (e.g., damaging their reputation, getting in trouble at school or with the police).
3.) Model appropriate technology usage. Don't harass or joke about others while online. Your kids are watching and learning.
4.) Monitor your child's activities while they are online. This can be done informally (through active participation in, and supervision of, your child's online experience) and formally (through software). Use discretion when covertly spying on your kids. This could cause more harm than good if your child feels their privacy has been violated. They may go completely underground with their online behaviors and deliberately work to hide their actions from you.
5.) Use filtering and blocking software as a part of a comprehensive approach to online safety, but understand software programs alone will not keep kids safe or prevent them from bullying others or accessing inappropriate content. Most tech-savvy youth can figure out ways around the filters very quickly.