Make sure your child is not bullied over the internet

Many children are bullied physically and mentally at schools or home.

But what some people don’t realise that cyberbullying is real and it is taking place more and more often now.

Cyberbullying takes place over digital devices. Some might think we are doing our children a favour by giving them a cell phone or computer even a tablet, but sometimes we are doing more harm than good.

Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, various apps or online in social media forums.

What children don’t realise is what they share over the internet can be used for good or it can be used for bad, it all depends on whose hands the information falls into.

Cyberbullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful or false information about someone else.

Children need to be careful when it comes to cyberbullying as it crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behaviour.

Cyberbullying does not only occur in children or teenagers, even adults can be cyberbullied.

Many parents don’t like checking or snooping on their children’s cell phones as it’s private, but sometimes it’s good just to take a look at what is happening on your child’s phone.

Many children don’t come out and say that they are being bullied and that breaks children down slowly.

“My daughter (11) was a victim of cyberbullying via Instagram as a person who said they were Ellen De Generes convinced her that she was a lucky winner to the show, and she needed to give her details and household details to this person over the Instagram. Luckily my daughter told me that she had won this so-called competition and that is when I checked what was happening on her phone, only to get the fright of my life,” said an anonymous source.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

*Social media, for example, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok

*Text messaging

*Chatting over the internet

*Emails

*Online gaming communities.