Signs Your Child Is Being Cyberbullied
Currently, social media sites rank among the most frequented platforms on the web. Clearly, as these platforms gain more traction, they attract a younger audience at an increasing rate. Yet, the more these young users engage with social media, the greater their exposure to risks such as cyberbullying becomes. This underscores the necessity of teaching the younger population about the potential hazards associated with social media.
ExpressVPN reveals that young children are unaware of the dangers they can face on social media, while parents are mainly worried about grooming and cyberbullying. Even though children have some idea about negative experiences on social media, they are not very aware of the extent of said danger. Educating younger users about the risks they can face online is crucial to staying safe.
What Is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying refers to the act of threatening or intimidating people online. Almost all Internet users have faced some sort of trolling or bullying online. However, such activities can become problematic if you do not know how to deal with them appropriately. Young children are more susceptible to such activities because they are not well-equipped to handle them. That is why parents need to check their child’s social media so they can recognize signs of cyberbullying early on.
Is Your Child Being Cyberbullied?
Do you think your child is being cyberbullied? Not every child will behave the same if they are being bullied online. However, here are some signs that will help you recognize whether your child is being cyberbullied or not.
Initial signs of cyberbullying can be sudden unease in accessing social media and the internet. If your child looks uneasy while using their phone or tries to avoid social media, there might be a possibility that they are being bullied online. Additionally, if your child is being bullied by someone they know, they will also try to avoid meeting people in real life as well.
Some other signs of cyberbullying include reluctance to share information about online activity. Cyberbullying can also lead to increased irritation and sudden behavior change. Your child could also have a problem interacting with other people and face issues with sleeping and eating. Any sudden behavior change typically means that your child is experiencing something uncomfortable.
If you see any such behaviors, try talking with your child. You can also have conversations with their friends or teachers to get a better understanding of what could be the reason. If you are still unable to resolve the issue, you can also restrict social media activity for your child for some time and help them focus on things that will make them feel better. Usually, cyberbullying victims isolate themselves from people. Trying to distract them from negative thoughts and being open with your child can help them come out of their shell and share things with you.
Final Words
If your child is being cyberbullied, there are chances that they will isolate themselves from people in real life as well. It is essential to stop such activities as they can permanently affect young children. Such actions can not only lead to self-esteem issues but also inflict psychological damage on your child. So parents should try to understand their child’s change in behavior so that they can put a stop to cyberbullying.
