Bullying is nothing new. But the arrival of the smartphone in your child’s life can add new layers to bullying. What can you do when your child is being bullied? We asked Rivka Otten from Helpwanted this question, who has outlined 5 steps.
Step 1 – Inform yourself
Cyberbullying can take on many different forms. Trolling, outing, shaming, exposing, or bullying in games: make sure you know what is going on as a parent and what your child does online. This helps to make the conversation easier.
Step 2 – Support your child
Children can find it hard to admit that they are being bullied. It is important to emphasize how talking about it is always a relief. Others can come up with a way to stop the bullying. It does not necessarily have to be with parents; it is also good to talk to a close friend, a teacher, the neighbor or an anonymous counsellor from a bullying hotline in your country, such as Helpwanted (NL). Also make sure that your child knows what to do when someone else confides in them. Nonetheless: as a victim of bullying, you should never feel like you’re on your own.
Step 3 – Talk about it
Talking about bullying can be a loaded conversation. Try to find a calm moment to briefly ask your child about their day online for an opening. And consider asking them if they have ever said something stupid about another person on social media. It can be uneasy, but your child may – possibly unintentionally – be a bully themself.
Step 4 – Get help
It can be hard to move on from the painful things someone shares about you online. But social media platforms also have a code of conduct which state that bullying is not permitted. This means that any harmful content can be removed. You can report this content, but a hotline like Helpwanted can also help with this.
Step 5 – Go to the police
If the bullying escalates to the point of receiving threats, stalking or leaking of private information (doxing), you can file a report with the police. Photos and videos can never be shared without consent either. Note: collect as much evidence as possible before stepping to the police.
