Every day, for kids of all ages, the problem of cyberbullying grows. The more time kids spend online, and the more net-savvy they become, the greater the odds are that they will become the target of other children who seek to hurt or embarrass them online.

The following are ten simple tips for keeping your kids safe online, and out of the hands of cyberbullies at school and from around the world.

10 tips to help stop cyberbullying

1. Talk to the school. If the cyberbullying in question is coming from a classmate, contact school officials immediately to determine if they have a policy in place to deal with such behavior.
2. Tell your kids not to open or read emails that they suspect are from cyberbullies. In the case of the Internet and Cyberbullying, what you can’t read won’t hurt you. Teach kids to dump suspicious emails right in the trash.
3. Take advantage of the technology. Bullies who use chat rooms as a means for spreading hate can easily be blocked using most chat programs. Sit down and take the time to show your kids how they can filter out bad people from their conversations.
4. Tell children NEVER to agree to meet someone they meet online. The Internet is filled with individuals who have bad intentions. Even those people who may seem trustworthy in their online persona may turn out to be a cyberbully or even a predator. Teach kids the importance of staying safe online.
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5. Supervise your kids’ online time. One of the most foolproof methods for stopping Cyberbullying is to monitor closely what your children do online. Tips for this method include removing computers with an Internet connection from the child’s bedroom and designating specific “family hours” for Internet use.
6. Tell your kids to never share their passwords or personal information with anyone. Friends and acquaintances of your children can wield a great deal of power if the know the passwords to their favorite sites and chat rooms. One of the fastest-growing types of cyberbullying is stealing someone’s identity and making embarrassing, damaging statements in that person’s name.
7. Monitor the use of your child’s photo online. Many cyberbullies will take your child’s photo and manipulate in ways that are damaging or embarrassing. Be very careful about the images your child presents online.
8. Watch out for the warning signs. Kids who are being cyberbullied may not want to talk about the problem with their parents. Common warning signs include depression, withdrawal from social situations, and spending more and more time online.
9. Be willing to contact the police. Parents who have gathered evidence about cyberbullying, and feel as if contacting the school has not stopped the problem should contact police – especially if the cyberbully has made threats to the health and well-being of the child.
10. Stick to your guns. The Internet is a big part of your child’s life. Getting them to agree to be safe and limit their unsupervised time online may be difficult. Stay firm and continue to oversee their computer time – even if the child lashes out and claims that you are invading their privacy.

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