The dangers of cyberbullying and how to protect your child from it

What is cyberbullying?

First, let's define the concept of cyberbullying (or digital bullying). Cyberbullying is the deliberate harassment, humiliation or intimidation of a person by an individual or group of people in an online space (social networks, instant messengers, Internet communities, electronic messages, video games), which is systematic and targeted in nature.

The goals of cyberbullying may vary depending on its form, but in any case, they are related to causing harm to another person — primarily psychological harm. However, the harm can also be physical or material if the violence from the online environment spills over into the real world.

The most common manifestations of cyberbullying

According to the results of a UNICEF sociological study, in 2023, one in five teenagers in Ukraine was subjected to online bullying. This is a fairly high indicator, which testifies to the real dangers of the Internet for children.

Bullying using modern digital technologies among children can take various forms:

1. Spreading rumours and lies in online communities.

   False information or negative rumours about a child or on their behalf may be spread under photos or videos, creating fake profiles on the Internet for this purpose. The goal may be to isolate them from online groups, chats or social networks by damaging your child's reputation.

2. Hacker attacks and account hacking.

   Your child's personal accounts (social networks, email) may be hacked in order to publish unpleasant material, gain access to private data, or steal personal photos or videos for publication without permission.

3. Blackmail and extortion.

   Teenagers may threaten their victims by sending photos online (real, altered with Photoshop, or created using artificial intelligence), blackmailing them and extorting money.

4. Sending hostile, offensive or threatening messages.

   A child may receive frequent or regular messages intended to upset, humiliate or frighten them. Anonymous accounts that cannot be traced back to a specific person may be used to send toxic messages.

5. Trolling.

   This usually involves posting offensive, humiliating or absurd comments on social networks, forums or chat rooms with the aim of provoking and annoying other participants. It can also involve the use of hostile or derogatory nicknames, mockery of appearance, personal characteristics, ethnicity, etc.

6. Flaming.

   Compared to trolling, this is a more destructive and toxic form of aggression in the online environment, which consists of actively attacking other participants in the discussion using insults and profanity.

7. Bullying in video games.

   During online games, a child may encounter ignoring or humiliation from a cyberbully who may engage in offensive behaviour or toxic comments via voice chat or text messages in games.

8. Violence for entertainment («happy slapping»).

   This is a common phenomenon among children and adolescents, where some film acts of violence against others and then distribute them on social networks or other platforms.

9. Constant harassment (stalking) via the Internet.

   A cyberbully may continue to send messages to a child even after they have asked them to stop contacting them. Stalking can also take the form of monitoring and reporting on all of the victim's online activities in order to control or intimidate them.

How to tell if your child is being digitally bullied

It can be difficult to tell if your child is being attacked online, as children often try to hide it out of fear or shame. However, there are several signs of cyberbullying that parents should look out for:

• Changes in behaviour and mood. If your child has become more withdrawn, experiences frequent mood swings, or feels anxious for no apparent reason, this may indicate that something is wrong.
• Reduced screen time. Your child may start avoiding the Internet or spending much less time online, especially if they were previously active on social media.
• Decreased interest in usual activities. If your child suddenly gives up their hobbies, it may be due to a negative experience on the Internet.
• Difficulties in communication. Your son or daughter may start avoiding friends and family if communicating online has become a source of stress.
• Problems with self-esteem. Your child may begin to doubt their abilities, question their appearance or abilities.
• The appearance of emotional or physical symptoms. Nervousness, headaches, stomach aches, difficulty sleeping — all of these symptoms can be the result of stress caused by cyberbullying.

If you notice even a few of these signs, don’t ignore them.

How to stop cyberbullying if it has already happened

Digital bullying can seriously traumatise a vulnerable child's psyche. Therefore, it is important to respond to such situations in a timely manner and find ways to resolve them so that the consequences of cyberbullying for the child are not disastrous.

If your child has been subjected to cyberbullying, you should do the following:

1. Save evidence of online bullying.

   Take screenshots, save offensive or threatening messages and other evidence of online attacks — you will need them to prove the reality and seriousness of the problem.

2. Block the aggressor and report their behaviour to the platform administrators.

   Teach your child how to block users who have hurt them and how to report bullying to platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.), as most social networks have features for reporting online abuse.

3. Change your child's phone number and temporarily delete their social media accounts.

   To prevent your child from feeling cut off from their friends and social life, you can create new private profiles for them with a different name and no photos.

4. Prohibit responding to provocations.

   If a cyberbully does not get the desired reaction to their provocations, they will gradually lose interest in their target. Therefore, agree with your child that they will ignore other people's provocations.

5. Support your child.

   If your child has been cyberbullied and confided in you, do not scold them or make them feel guilty. Instead, praise them for trusting you. Warm communication with loved ones will help your child relieve the stress of what they have experienced more quickly.

6. Contact law enforcement agencies.

   If online harassment has serious consequences (threats or crimes), it is worth contacting the Cyber Police Department in Ukraine with evidence of this by calling the hotline 0 800 505 170. For your information, our country provides for administrative liability for cyberbullying.

Steps to protect your child from cyberbullying

Of course, no one is immune to online bullying. But you can reduce the likelihood of your child becoming a victim and take steps to make them feel safe:

1. Talk to your child about the importance of Internet safety.

   Advise them to be careful about what they post on social media. It is best to set up accounts so that only people your child knows personally can access their posts. This can be done by closing the page to outsiders and restricting access to a circle of trusted individuals. This will help prevent the spread of unnecessary information.

2. Set up privacy settings.

   Check and set the privacy level on all of your child's accounts. Make sure that the page is private and that only acquaintances and friends have access to the information. Only follow people your child knows personally, and never accept requests from strangers.

3. Monitor content.

   Use special programmes to monitor online activity. For example, programmes to monitor the time your child spends online or to check who they are communicating with. When choosing online games and applications, check reviews and ratings to avoid unwanted contacts.

4. Communicate openly.

   It is important that your child knows that they can always turn to their parents if someone is bothering them online. Create an atmosphere of trust so that your child is not afraid to talk about problems or unpleasant situations.

5. Educate your children.

   Talk to them about bullying, how it manifests itself, and why it is important not to give in to pressure online. Teach them how to respond to aggressive or offensive messages (don’t respond aggressively, block the sender, report it to an adult).

6. Take an interest in what your child does online.

   Regularly ask your child about what they see and do on the Internet. This will allow you to stay informed, identify problems in a timely manner, and provide support. Make sure your child does not feel ashamed to ask you for help if problems arise.

7. Seek professional help if necessary.

   If the situation gets out of hand and online bullying continues, do not be afraid to contact a psychologist or lawyer who can provide professional assistance.

It is important to understand that cyberbullying is a real threat that can cause deep psychological trauma to a child. That is why it is important not to leave them alone with the problem. Protecting children from online bullying is not only about technology, but also about building trust and open communication, as well as parents taking an active interest in their child's digital life.