As technology evolves, so do the ways to bully. When we heard of the word “bully,” we associated the word with an image of a child harassing another child in a schoolyard. Now with the easy access to cell phones, instant messaging, mobile devices, social networking websites, and other technologies, bullying has found its way into cyberspace. Cyber bully, one of the most prevalent types of bullying that occurs between teens, is becoming a growing national problem. “With all the available technologies making it is easier for cyber bullies to hide behind screens and be mean to others, it begs the question: How should parents and kids deal with cyber bullying without unnecessary and unpleasant conflict or confrontation?” With teachers, school
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In journalist Jan Hoffman’s essay, “As Bullies Go digital, Parents Play Catch-Up,” he argues, “Desperate to protect their children, parents are floundering even as they scramble to catch up with their technological sophistication of the next generation (pg. 31).” Meaning the creativity of children, through the technological power-house such as the web, challenged parents and traditional authorities with a new sort of rebellion. Parents, when responding to protect their children, sometimes don’t always know that when they act rashly by reporting publicly or to the school authorities are instead making things worse for their kids. As to being a parent, the best course of action to take in these kinds of situation is best to respond thoughtfully and not act rashly. When dealing with incidents of cyber bully save and document the threats (harassing messages, sexually explicit pictures, or threatening texts), including the e-mail addresses or online screen names of the cyber bully for evidence to verify and prove that there is cyber bullying. Report them to the police and seek appropriate legal advice on this situation. If able to identify the cyber bully, contact his or her parents or notify the school if the cyber bully is also a student there. Before notifying the school, check with the child if he or she wants to resolve the problem privately. It is his or her’s life, so he or she needs to be part of the solution. Until something can be done on an administrative level, work with the child to handle bullying without being defeated. Practiced scenarios at home with the child on how to ignore a bully and/or develop assertive strategies for coping with bullying. And help the child to identify teachers and friends that can help them if they are worried about being
In journalist Jan Hoffman’s essay, “As Bullies Go digital, Parents Play Catch-Up,” he argues, “Desperate to protect their children, parents are floundering even as they scramble to catch up with their technological sophistication of the next generation (pg. 31).” Meaning the creativity of children, through the technological power-house such as the web, challenged parents and traditional authorities with a new sort of rebellion. Parents, when responding to protect their children, sometimes don’t always know that when they act rashly by reporting publicly or to the school authorities are instead making things worse for their kids. As to being a parent, the best course of action to take in these kinds of situation is best to respond thoughtfully and not act rashly. When dealing with incidents of cyber bully save and document the threats (harassing messages, sexually explicit pictures, or threatening texts), including the e-mail addresses or online screen names of the cyber bully for evidence to verify and prove that there is cyber bullying. Report them to the police and seek appropriate legal advice on this situation. If able to identify the cyber bully, contact his or her parents or notify the school if the cyber bully is also a student there. Before notifying the school, check with the child if he or she wants to resolve the problem privately. It is his or her’s life, so he or she needs to be part of the solution. Until something can be done on an administrative level, work with the child to handle bullying without being defeated. Practiced scenarios at home with the child on how to ignore a bully and/or develop assertive strategies for coping with bullying. And help the child to identify teachers and friends that can help them if they are worried about being