Beat a Cyberbully: Here’s How Parents Can Help

Beat a Cyberbully: Here’s How Parents Can Help
While remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lowered reported instances of
bullying, parents fear that, for some students, going back to school will mean the return
of bullying.
“Joe and I have had many discussions about cyberbullying and the effects of social
media on our children,” said Deitra Lopez of their family of five in Kea’au, Hawaii.
As we consider National Bullying Prevention Month in October, it is clear that
technology’s ever-greater presence in children’s lives has given bullying a new outlet. With
just a click, cyberbullies can taunt, harass and threaten relentlessly, even reaching into
the home via cell phone or computer. As a result, victims report feeling hopeless, isolated,
and even suicidal.
Jayme Harris of Na’alehu, Hawaii, says
cyberbullying hits close to home.
“Because of cyberbullying, my
coworker’s child was suicidal and had to
be hospitalized.”
What can parents do to protect their
kids? Taking an interest in their
children’s online world can make a
difference, says many authorities on the
matter.
This interest does not necessarily
require parents to become tech experts.
Instead, the website stopbullying.gov, a
government website in the United States,
suggests that parents watch for subtle clues that something is wrong, such as their child
becoming withdrawn, hiding their screen when others are nearby, or reacting emotionally
to what’s happening on their device.
Talking with kids openly—and often—helps too. “The more you talk to your children about
bullying, the more comfortable they will be telling you if they see or experience it,” UNICEF
says in its online tips for parents.
“We have a group family chat where we discuss things that could happen,” said Deitra
Lopez. “Sometimes it’s not even on social media. It could be a simple text but we try to
help them identify the dangers, respond or not respond, delete or report it.”

Beyond talking with, listening to, and observing their kids, parents shouldn’t be afraid to
make and enforce rules for online activities, experts say.
The Lopez children are allowed to look at social media but the computer is kept in an
open area in their living room. Joe says of his children, “if they are on the computer, we
want them to be in the living room so that we can monitor what they are looking at.” His
wife, Deitra adds, “and we have a 30-minute time limit on social media.”
The Harris family have taken a similar approach. “We have the computer set up in a
common area of the home where our son can’t isolate himself to protect him a little
more,” said Ryan.
Both families cited the tips and reminders they’ve considered together with their kids
from free resources available on jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Harris’ son especially recommended one of the site’s short animated videos, Beat a
Bully Without Using Your Fists.
“What I like about the whiteboard animation is that it’s good to talk to people if you’re
being bullied,” he said. “I also like Proverbs 22:3, which shows in the video to avoid
situations if you think it will have a bad outcome and to think about what to say if a bully
approaches you.”