Cyberbullying: Prevention and Treatment

Humans are both notoriously adaptive and petty. In a world of technology dependence, it's no surprise that cyber-bullying has become so prevalent, as it proves our adaptivity and satisfies our pettiness. This modern form of bullying is just another update on a thousand year chain of violence, but luckily, thanks to the semi-permanent and public nature of the internet, it is very preventable and easily fixed.

As with most things, prevention is always the most viable option. It's important to inform your children that cyber-bullying can be just as hurtful even though they cannot see the pain they inflict. Most people think that actions committed on the internet can't have ramifications in the real world, and this can lead to some very real embarrassment and regret. It's also important to make sure that your children know that cyber-bullying cannot be ignored and make sure that they feel comfortable telling you if they have been victimized.

If you become suspicious of these activities, it's best to sit down with your child and have a light discussion in a way in which you both feel comfortable. A child who feels accused will likely deny everything and plead ignorance, so it's important to speak as a parent and not as a law enforcer. Once your suspicions are confirmed, the next challenge is defusing the situation gently. Before contacting the school, police, or local militia, explain the situation to the antagonist's parents, allowing them the opportunity to handle it as you did. If the other party holds their end of the bargain, the crisis should be avoided for now. If not, it may be necessary to put the situation into more capable hands, such as those of the school administration. The problem should be resolved shortly after, and only time will tell if a friendship can be formed after all.

Essentially, cyber-bullying can be treated in much the same way as the bullying methods of the past. The greatest tool you can use in defense as a parent is the internet. The crime scene is saved in HTML format and all you have to do is act.