Remember the days of playground bullying? One kid took lunch money away from another, a group of kids taunted someone in the cafeteria, or an older child physically intimidated a younger one.

 

Now bullying has gone electronic, and it can hurt your child.

 

What is cyberbullying?

 

Cyberbullying is using technology to harm someone. For example, a cyberbully may start a rumor about another child by sending an email or a text message, or posting the rumor on a blog. Cyberbullies use email, instant messages, blogs, chat rooms, cell phone photos, and social networking sites to attack their victims.

 

•  Talk openly about cyberbullying with your child.
•  Educate your child on how to spot cyberbullying and how to respond to it.
• Teach your child empathy and how to understanding someone else’s feelings.
• Get involved by talking to the bully’s parents and try to resolve the issue together.

 

What you can do to stop cyberbullying

 

Simply ignore the bully.

 

•     Do not respond to emails or texts, or post a message on a blog or forum in response.
•     Don’t forward bullying emails to others. This will only continue the problem.
•     Print the email out and bring it to an adult.
•     Speak up and tell a parent or other adult about the cyberbullying.

Other resources:

WiredSafety provides information and education on cyberbullying.

Stop Bullying Now!

GirlsHealth.gov

 

 

Reviewed by: Mark Groshek, MD, July 2014

Additional Kaiser Permanente reviewers

© 2014 Kaiser Permanente