Cyberbullying: What can parents do? Published Oct. 8, 2015 By Senior Airman Sarah Hall-Kirchner 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Scott Air Force Base, Illinois -- Editor's note: This is the third article in a three-part series examining cyberbullying, the terms related to it, and what parents can do about it. For more information on cyberbullying or other family related issues, contact the Family Advocacy Program at 618-256-7203 or the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 618-256-8668. In 2000, about half of adults in the United States were online and only three percent of American households were using broadband for internet access at home, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2014, Pew reported that 87 percent of American adults use the internet. The internet is now readily available, often on a smartphone in the pockets of most people. Even teenagers and children use the internet. Easy access to information has changed the world for the better, but it has also brought with it many new threats. One of which is cyberbullying. William White, 375th Medical Group Family Advocacy Program outreach manager, said, "Children have been bullying each other throughout the ages. However, today's generation has been able to use technology and social media to expand their reach and the extent of their harm. It is important for parents and children to understand that cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices and can cause serious harm." Family Advocacy along with the Youth Center and the Healthy Military Children initiative want to give parents the tools they need to prevent cyberbullying and to stop it if it does occur. "Cyberbullying is a form of teen violence that can and does do serious damage," said White. "Our kids are being hurt by this. With this class, we're going to give parents the terminology and statistics to understand what is happening, so they can recognize it and stop it." White says that parents need to know cyberbullying can take place over the phone, on the internet, and on messaging applications. "Due to the complexities associated with social behavior and online cyberbullying, it is important that parents talk with their children and address the topic of cyberbullying with them even if your child does not mention any problems," said White. First, talk with children about making themselves safe online. According to the Center for Disease Control's website, www.stopbullying.gov, online accounts should be made private. Each different type of account, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others have unique ways to make them private. Go over those privacy settings with them to keep their posts and photos safe. Some basic rules can also keep children safe online. Decide what rules that children need to follow in your family, and then go over them with your children. The CDC recommends telling your children to never give out their personal information. If a friend or loved one needs their information, they recommend calling the person directly, and not putting it online, even in a message. Also, the CDC recommends that children never add people to their friend's list that they do not know. There are many social media accounts that are fake and children should be taught to beware of them. Tell children not to initiate contact with people they do not know as well. Next, parents should tell their children what to do if they are being cyberbullied, stalked, or harassed. The CDC recommends parents assure their children that they can come to them with any situation, even if the child was doing something that they knew they should not have been doing when the cyberbullying took place, such as going on a forbidden website or using their phone after curfew. Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center reported that students surveyed in a 2010 poll reported that the most helpful things that teachers can do are: listen to the student, check in with them afterward to see if the bullying stopped, and give the student advice. Parents can follow these same guidelines: listen to children, check in with them often, and tell them what they could or should do. "The best tack parents can take when their child is cyberbullied is to make sure their child feels safe and secure, convey unconditional love and support," said White. Students reported, in the same Pacer study, that telling the person to stop or that it hurts their feelings, walking away, or pretending it doesn't bother them were the most negative impacts on getting help while or after being targeted by bullying. Finally, if a child tells their parent that they are being bullied, the parent needs to act, said White. The parent should contact the school and possibly the authorities. Parents need to believe their children and do what is necessary to help their children when they are being bullied. "Document and report cyberbullying," said White. "Do not delete or erase messages that pertain to cyberbullying. The authorities can use it to possibly prosecute the person who is doing the bullying." **Part one of this series can be found here: www.scott.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123459133** **Part two of this series can be found here: www.scott.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123459687**