Cyberbullying 101: What Is Cyberbullying?

How should parents advise children being hurt online?

Provide necessary guidance and support, no matter your child's age. It's important to encourage your child to talk to you, but also respect and honor your child's decision to resolve situations independently.

Advise your child not to respond quickly if someone is being hurtful. An angry and aggressive response, made in haste, can escalate the problem. Tell your child to save the harmful material as evidence.

Here are ways you and your child can respond to cyberbullies:

• Say "stop" in a calm and strong manner. Saying "stop" does not mean retaliating. If saying "stop" once or twice is not effective, try another strategy.
• Leave an abusive environment, or block a person from sending harmful communications.
• File an abuse report. Most sites that allow for interactive communications have a Terms of Use agreement that prohibits anyone from engaging in hurtful communications.
• Contact the parent(s) of the cyberbully and state firmly that the hurtful actions must be stopped. Provide electronic evidence. Try not to provoke a defensive reaction.
• Contact your school's administrators for help if there is evidence of cyberbullying among the students.
• Call an attorney or the police if your child is in danger. An attorney can help you take necessary legal action and the police can help you address threats of physical violence and/or sexual exploitation.

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