How to Eliminate Cyber-bullying:
What can you do to support someone who is being bullied online?
- Don’t give out passwords for your computer, cell phone or social media profiles.
- Don’t share anything personal with anyone that could potentially put it on the Internet. That includes pictures, secrets or information on others that you may have.
- Save the bullying messages or postings as proof, and tell an adult immediately.
- Block the person doing the cyber bullying.
- Turn off your technology. Sometimes you need to take a break and step away from being engaged all the time.
What can you do to support someone who is being bullied online?
- Reinforce that no one deserves to be treated in this way and that they have done nothing wrong
- Ensure that they know that there is help available to them
- Encourage them to talk to a teacher that they trust so they feel they have somewhere safe at school to go to
- Encourage them to talk to their parents/family
- Take screen shots of the cyber bullying so that they have proof this is happening
- Report all abuse to the relevant social media networks by clicking on the “report abuse” button
- Keep a diary so they have somewhere safe and private to write down their innermost thoughts and feelings which will help to avoid feelings bottling up
- Give praise for being so brave and talking things through which will hopefully empower them to take responsibility and get help
- Sending abuse by email or posting it into a web board can be harassment and if this has happened make a complaint to the police who can trace IP addresses etc
- Ask the school if they have a School Liaison Police Officer that can help in this situation and talk to the school about the dangers and effects