Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying411.com has provided the following tips to educate yourself and your family about cyberbullying and how to address it in the real world.

In general, cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that happens online. Much of it is similar to what teenagers experience offline in schools, homes, or the community, but has the additional aspect of the Internet.

Cyberbullying occurs in many different places online, including through instant messaging, on social networking sites, via email, and in chat rooms. The most common place cyberbullying occurs is over instant messenger, but it also can occur via other new technologies such as text messaging on mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

For parents it's important to educate yourself about cyberbullying. Talk to your kids about the things they do, the things they see, and the people they talk to online and offline. Talk to other parents about Internet safety and behavior; just because you and your teens know what's up doesn't mean all parents do.

Internet behavior should be an ongoing conversation within the home:

• Talk about Internet safety. Kids want to know that you "get it."
• Discuss appropriate online etiquette. For example, tell them that if they wouldn't say something to the person's face because it's too mean, it's probably not okay to say it online. Make sure your teens know appropriate online behavior and how to end a conversation they don't like.
• Just as you ask your kids about where they go and who they're with after school, ask them which Web sites they visit and who they chat with online.
• Assure your teens that if they tell you about something that happened online, you will work with them to resolve the issue without taking away their Internet privileges.

For more information and resources about how to talk to your kids about cyberbullying, please visit the following sites:
http://www.cyberbully411.com
http://www.isolutions4kids.org