Cyberbullying
Parent’s Guide to Online Safety
With the aim to help guide children and young people toward safe, enjoyable experiences online, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner have created a series of short articles to help educate parents about the changing nature of the on line world. We will be publishing these regularly in our newsletter and encourage you to discuss these with your child.
Springside West Secondary College will be discussing similar issues with your child with the hope to encourage behavioural change-where young people act responsibly online-just as they would offline.
For more information about the articles and extra resources please visit www.esafety.gov.au
Cyberbullying
Supporting your child online
Childhood bullying used to be face-to-face physical and verbal behaviour in the playground, classroom and on the way to and from school. Now online technology and constant connectivity has allowed bullying to harm children through often anonymous contact or actions. Cyberbullying can happen at any time and leave a child feeling unsafe and alone.
Cyberbullying commonly occurs through:
- Comments posted in an open online environment such as Facebook.
- Direct text, email or instant messages online or on a mobile phone.
Children can manage cyberbullying with your support by taking the following action:
- Blocking the person cyberbullying and changing privacy settings. Retaliating or responding to the perpetrator only gives them the attention and power they want.
- Reporting the bullying. Most websites have on line safety centres and reporting facilities. Online abuse is in violation of the Terms Of Use of most social networking sites. The Office of the eSafety Commission can take complaints and provide assistance in relation to serious cyberbullying material that is directed at a particular child with the intention to seriously embarrass, harass, threaten or humiliate.
- Collecting the evidence. Keeping mobile phone messages and printing emails or IM conversations.
- Talking to someone they trust like parents or a teacher.