Avoiding cyberbullying

With the high usage of social media by teenagers and kids, bullying has have a new modality: cyberbullying.

With the high usage of social media by teenagers and kids, bullying has have a new mode: cyberbullying.

While the Canadian Justice Minister Peter MacKay is trying to stop cyberbullying with a legislation he proposed  called Bill C-13, parents are still struggling of how to prevent their kids from this uncomfortable situation.

Defined as bullying that takes place in electronic devices by stopbullying.gov, is characterized by its high intensity because sending text messages and mails can happen in any time of the day and by its author’s anonymity.

Several internet articles and psychologists have gave tips for parents of how to prevent this problem like having rules about technology use, make your kids stop any communication with cyberbullies, etc.

But cyberbullying is not happening because of technology itself or because children have a Facebook account, it is basically related to the psychology of the bully.

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” C.S.Lewis.

The internet portal “Delete cyberbullying” explains in its article “Why do people cyberbully”  that it happens because:

  • Popular kids want to stay popular and feel powerful.
  • Shy kids want to fit with others or with bullies.
  • Bullies have a distant relationship with their parents.
  • Bullies can’t control their emotions and it results difficult for them to follow rules.

It seems that one of the best ways to prevent not only cyberbulling, but bullying in general is giving an appropriate education to kids.

The article “Teaching kids not to bully” from kidshealth.org gives some suggestions related to the topic.

“Some kids who bully at school and in settings with their peers are copying behavior that they see at home,” indicated the publication.

This means that parents not only must teach kids that hurting others is bad, but they also to show coherence with what they teach.

On the other hand, the article states that teaching children to respect others and be kind is one of the key aspects to don’t raise a bully.

” Teach your child that it is wrong to ridicule differences (e.g., race, religion, appearance, special needs, gender, economic status) and try to instill a sense of empathy for those who are different,” implied the text.

Another suggestion this portal gives to to be aware of your children’s friends. Probably they have been influenced by children who are bullying.

“Talk to your kids about those relationships and about the pressures to fit in. Get them involved in activities outside of school so that they meet and develop friendships with other kids,” showed the article.

Now, what happens if parents ignore this situation and continue being permissive with them and don’t care about having a bully at home?

The Therapist James Lehman predicted in his article “The secret of bullies: why they do it- and how to stop them”  some consequences.

One thing that can happen is that the bully can stop offending people because he or she reaches maturity and creates an independent life.

However, other tendency for bullies is to keep their behaviour during their lifes and abuse from their own families.

“Bullies may also become criminals. Look at it this way: a bully is somebody who is willing to use aggression, verbal abuse, property destruction or even violence to get his way,” indicated the publication.

Although one of the ways to prevent cyberbullying is ignoring the text messages, is not a secret that preventing kids to become bullies can also be an effective solution.

 

 

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