It's Not Strangers Who Are The Bullies

20% of 14 – 15 year-olds have experienced some form of cyberbullying - and it's not strangers who are the culprits. 

According to Australian research conducted by the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA), it has been found that cyberbullying rarely happens solely online. 

ACMA senior advisor Rosalie O’Neale said to the
Sydney Morning Herald
, "Cyberbullying can often be an extension of face-to-face bullying…it doesn't often happen online in isolation."

 

This means that it's very rare for a complete stranger to mount a cyberbullying attack online. It normally comes from someone already known to the child being bullied. 

 

While none of these statistics are very comforting, one thing to note is that 14 -
15 years
is the age where bullying peaks.

 

But what do you do and where do you go if your kid is being cyber bullied?

A good first step is the Australian Government’s Cyber Smart website, where you can get up to date and relevant information and broken down into age-appropriate sections for young kids, kids and teens. There’s also the Easy Guide to Socialising Online, a federal government website that focuses on cyber safety education and prevention looking at social media, gaming and search engines.

Another great resource, particularly for teens, is the Reach Out website. They have lots of information about cyber bullying and a good guide to how to protect yourself online plus links to get age appropriate face to face help if things are getting really tough.

Plus, if you’re looking for some cyber safety educational videos, Common Sense Media have a whole host of resources as part of their cyber bullying toolkit that help to explain and educate about cyber safety. While this site is U.S. based, it’s still relevant for prevention information.

Source : parents[dot]nickjr[dot]com[dot]au