Posted on 23/09/2019 by Evolve in Blog
As online bullying and trolling is becoming more common and we are hearing more about it, we wanted to give you some insight into cyberbullying and how it can affect young people, the signs to watch for and how to help.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online and can be carried out in many ways, such as
· Excluding a child from online games or activities
· Sending threatening, upsetting or abusive messages
· Creating and sharing embarrassing or malicious images or videos
· ‘Trolling’ – sending menacing or upsetting messages on social network
· Encouraging young people to self-harm
· Creating fake accounts in order to embarrass someone or cause trouble
The NSPCC states that one in three internet users is a child, and three quarters of 12 to 15-year olds have a social media account.
A quarter of those under 18 on social media have experienced something upsetting online.
Ditchthelabel.org which is an international anti-bullying charity estimates that around 5.43 million young people in the UK have been the victims of cyberbullying, with 1.26 million people suffering extreme cyberbullying daily.
In a report from 2016, based on data received from Twitter 33% of online troll content was about intelligence, with 20% about appearance.
The Department of Education comments looking out for the following signs:
· Being secretive about online activities
· Being upset after being online or on their mobile
· Spending less time online
· New contact information showing up on phones and computers
· Not wanting to go to school or avoiding friends
· Avoiding social situations
· Low self-esteem
· Difficulty sleeping
If you discover that your child is being bullied, there are numerous things to do to ensure this stops:
· Take screenshots, download messages or take photos. Keep as much information as you can
· Report the bullying to the appropriate online forum
· Speak to teachers
· Report the bullying to the police
We hope this helps to raise your awareness of online bullying. You can find out more information on the below links:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/online-bullying/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/bullying-and-cyberbullying/
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/contact.html
https://www.freederm.co.uk/body-image-and-self-esteem
