How to combat bullying in the digital age

by Capt. Allison Walker
17th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrician

11/19/2013 - GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Watching the news, many parents may feel perplexed by the recent surge of "cyberbullying."

Cyberbullying? What is that? This relatively new phenomena is unchartered waters for most parents and keeping children safe in this new technological arena can be anxiety provoking.

Cyberbullying is defined as deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person. As of 2011, at least 75 percent of teenagers had cell phones, and more than 50 percent were logging into some version of social media daily. The 24/7 access to digital media allows for such damaging information to become wide public knowledge almost instantly - and incredibly difficult to remove. The most recent numbers report that more than 20 percent of adolescents have been the victim of cyberbullying. This is a very common online risk and can result in severe depression, anxiety, social isolation and even suicide.

What can you do to help protect your child from becoming a victim or perpetrator?
- Most social media sites, such as Facebook or Myspace, have a minimal age requirement of 13 years of age for use. This is the age set by Congress to prohibit sites from collecting information from children. Learn the age restrictions set by the sites your child is accessing and adhere to them. In addition, look at the site and make sure that you agree that the content is age appropriate.
- Have a family meeting or use dinner conversations to discuss online topics and specific issues children face on-line.
- Always dig deeper if your child has a change in mood, new fears regarding school/friends, or the onset of sadness/aggression immediately following exposure to digital media.
- As a family, take time to review the privacy settings and monitor the profiles of each member to identify any inappropriate posts on a routine basis. Emphasize healthy behaviors and citizenship - this should not be a punishment.
- Establish a family use plan to limit the time spent using digital media - not only does this help to limit the time your child is vulnerable to cyberbullying, but it limits distractions to homework and sleep as well. Make sure all access to digital media is removed at bedtime and adhere to your school's policy on internet and phone use.
- Become better educated with technologies and social media sites.
- Actively participate in supervising on-line activities, not remotely with software.
- Be a good role model. Limit your time with digital media and demonstrate private and safe behaviors.

If you or your child experiences cyberbullying, immediately end the interaction. Never respond to a bully. Get school officials involved, notify the site managers if it occurs on social media (it often is in violation of their rules), and of course, if there are any threats of violence or safety concerns, notify the police.