Every social media post your child shares has the potential to reach far beyond their own profile. It could influence not only their followers but also their emotional well-being. Even the most innocent selfie or comment can attract harmful comments filled with insults or slurs. These hurtful remarks might come from a troll or a cyberbully and could deeply affect your child’s confidence and sense of safety online. This is why fostering awareness about the challenges of the digital world is essential. Open conversations, even with young children, can help prepare them to navigate these experiences and build resilience in the face of online negativity.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying occurs when someone uses digital platforms – such as social media, messaging apps, or online games – to harm or target another person. This behavior can take many forms, including sending mean messages, posting embarrassing photos, spreading rumors, or leaving hurtful comments. While cyberbullying is often ongoing and repetitive, even a single harmful act can cause significant emotional distress.
What does child psychologist Jarmila Tomková advise to do when encountering a cyberbully? Read our interview.
What makes cyberbullying particularly challenging is its constant presence – it can happen at any time, day or night, and has the potential to reach a wide audience almost instantly. You never know who might be a victim of cyberbullying or an aggressor; they could look just like you or me, hiding behind a virtual identity. This can make the experience especially overwhelming for children and teens, leaving them feeling vulnerable and exposed.
The effects such experiences can have on their victim are severe. A study published in the BMJ Journal highlights that children who experience cyberbullying are more likely to experience depression and anxiety.
Check a brief video about use of AI in cyberbullying.
There are many different types of cyberbullying your kids might face:
Social media against cyberbullying
All social media are potential playfields for cyberbullies, so it's quite natural they also take preventive measures. TikTok for example dedicates a whole blog page to prevention of cyberbullying. Snapchat – which is also very popular among kids – offers advice on its parental control features. And Instagram dedicated a whole page to their anti-bullying manifesto explaining to users how individual preventive measures work.
Why cyberbullies do it?
The reasons behind cyberbullying are similar to traditional bullying, such as a desire for power, attention-seeking, or acting on prejudices. However, the online environment amplifies these behaviors due to the anonymity it provides. Cyberbullies often feel a sense of impunity, believing they can act without consequences. This fosters the online disinhibition effect, where individuals behave more aggressively or recklessly online than they would in person. Factors like the lack of social cues, physical distance from the victim, and the potential for a large audience make cyberbullying particularly appealing.
Additionally, cyberbullying requires little effort and can have a far-reaching impact, making it an easy outlet for frustration, jealousy, or anger. Peer pressure also plays a role, as some join in to fit in or avoid being targeted themselves. The normalization of aggressive behavior online, such as trolling or flame wars, further blurs the line between acceptable conduct and harm, encouraging cyberbullying behaviors.
According to the latest findings by WHO, 11% of adolescents of both genders report being bullied at school. The number of cyberbullying incidents is even higher – 15% of boys and 16% of girls report experiencing it at least once. However, statistics from Research.com paint an even more alarming picture, showing that 37% of middle and high school students in the U.S. experience cyberbullying. With children spending increasing amounts of time online – e.g. Gen Z reportedly spends up to 9 hours per day on the internet, according to Exploding Topics – the prevalence of cyberbullying is likely to rise. It is therefore more urgent than ever to know how to deal with cyberbullying incidents.
1. Stay private
Privacy settings are essential for protecting your kids' social media accounts. Ensure their accounts are set to private and encourage them to only accept followers they know personally. Public accounts can be easy targets for trolls and cyberbullies.
2. Report and block
If your kids encounter a cyberbully, the first step is to report the user to the platform. Most platforms provide options to report content for hate speech, cyberbullying, or similar violations. Take screenshots to be able to provide proof if needed. Then, after reporting, block the user to prevent further interactions.
3. Don't engage
Teach your kids not to respond to hateful comments. Engaging with bullies often escalates the situation, giving them the attention they crave. Explain that trolls are typically looking to provoke conflict and waste their time. Ignoring them is often the most effective response.
4. Balance online and offline life
Help your kids understand the importance of offline activities, hobbies, and friendships. Having a strong offline life provides a healthy balance and emotional support, reducing the impact of negative online experiences.
5. Get help when needed
Sometimes, these steps may not be enough – especially if the bully is someone your child knows in real life and the harassment occurs across multiple channels. If the situation feels threatening, don't hesitate to contact the police. Be sure to collect evidence first by taking screenshots of hateful messages, comments, and other online interactions.
What does child psychologist Jarmila Tomková advise to do when encountering a cyberbully? Read our interview.
How to help your child cope with cyberbullying
If your child experiences cyberbullying, it’s essential to support them in dealing with the situation. First and foremost, encourage them to speak up – staying silent does not make the issue go away. Effective coping strategies include blocking the bully, avoiding the platform where the bullying occurs if possible, and seeking support from trusted adults or peers. In some cases, your child might consider changing their profile name or deleting their account and starting fresh with improved privacy settings. Empowering your child to take these steps can help them regain control and move forward.
Read our interview with child psychologist Jarmila Tomková providing more tips on overcoming a cyberbullying incident.
While not directly connected to cyberbullying, you might still want to explore the Parental Control feature which is part of the ESET HOME Security plan. This feature helps you limit your child's access to certain websites.
It’s crucial to have honest and open discussions with your children about cyberbullying. Help them recognize the risks they may face in the digital world and teach them how to navigate social media responsibly. Emphasize that cyberbullying is never their fault and reassure them that seeking support and help is not only acceptable but encouraged. Remind them that anyone – even adults – can encounter challenging situations online, and it’s important to address these issues together.
With ESET Parental Control for Android
TRY FREE FOR 30 DAYSBullies have always existed, but today they are increasingly shifting into the online world – just like the rest of us. Popular platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are rife with trolls, haters, and cyberbullies. Sooner or later, your child may encounter one. In this article, we’ll explain how to stay protected and what steps to take if you or your child becomes the target of a cyberbully.
Cyberbullying can significantly affect children’s confidence and cause them to lose hope in the kindness of others. Especially if they are left to deal with their emotions on their own. How should parents proceed when they think their child may be a victim of cyberbullying? And how can they help them get back on their feet? We discussed the topic in detail with Jarmila Tomkova, a child psychologist.
