How to Protect Your Child from Cyberbullying

This article was last modified on May 13th, 2020.

The internet has proven to be an incredible advancement and a critical part of life in the 21st century. We are now connected to people from all walks of life across the globe and have more information at our fingertips than ever before. The educational system has experienced extreme advancements since the internet makes research easier than ever before. Now, we can even offer a robust full education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade without requiring them to ever leave their home.

These advancements are truly incredible, but they do not come without some obstacles. Cyberbullying is one problem in particular that has spiked since the rise of internet usage in the younger population. It is important for parents to have open communication with children about cyberbullying to curb this trend and create a healthy, positive environment for everyone. Here are our tips for how to best protect your child from cyberbullying while they navigate the internet:

1. Have an open conversation with your child – Talk to your child about how to communicate with others online with kindness. Emphasize your values and how they can be applied to online interactions as well as real-life situations.
2. Set boundaries on internet usage – Make sure your child has boundaries on how long they are able to be on the computer each day and what websites they are allowed to visit.
3. Monitor computer usage – If possible, limit your child’s computer usage to common areas in your home. It is important that you do not “snoop” on their internet usage, as this will violate their trust and make them unlikely to bring issues to you in the future.
4. Take your child’s concerns seriously – If your child brings something to your attention, be sure to take it seriously. If you brush off their concerns, it sets an unhealthy precedent where they will hesitate to bring issues to you in the future.

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