In today’s climate, the computer is more than just a recreational item. With kids locked inside, more and more have turned to their computers for assignments, hearing from their teachers, and more.
There are plenty of risks that come with being on the computer for so long; poor posture, bleary eyes, boredom, distractions, and cyberbullying.
A recent study claimed that online toxicity and cyberbullying among teens and children has risen by 40% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
As a parent, what can you do to make sure your child isn’t exposed to all the online negativity?
Educate Yourself
Before you start to think about how to combat cyberbullying, you first have to understand the difference between each social media platform and popular websites. We’re not saying you should become a social media expert, but it helps to know what exactly a Tweet is or what makes Tik Tok so unique.
If you have older children, you might want to ask to explore places like Reddit or 4Chan.
Once you have a basic idea of what each platform does, you’re ready to move onto the next step.
Sit Down and Speak With Your Children
While it’s not uncommon for kids to have their parents beat when it comes to new technology knowledge, that doesn’t mean you can’t sit down and talk about how to act and behave in the online world.
Ask them to show you their profile and what they do online. It can be hard to toe that line between the Big Brother parent and the concerned parent but do your best to show you’re coming from a place of concern without giving off those 1984 vibes.
Here are some things you should make sure and include in your talk:
Teaching them to be respectful, even online
Not to respond to cyberbullying
To let them tell you if the problem persists
It’s not always their fault, don’t threaten to take away their items
Practice and Teach Safe Online Habits
What makes these different from the tips above?
Well, these tips are more about what you can do online to keep yourself safe. They can even be good for parents if they’re not following them.
First, never give anyone your password unless it’s someone you trust. Your password is your password. Giving someone your password just opens the door for a whole host of problems.
On that same note, don’t give people you don’t know your personal information. This is true for those “fun” games people play on social media. The University of Texas A&M IT’s department had a great tweet about people that give away their personal information for free.
Be careful what you download and always make sure your downloads are coming from a trusted website.
Set Strict Guidelines
It has been hard for parents to keep rules and guidelines going when kids are around 24/7, but it’s necessary in order to keep them safe.
Have times where they can and cannot use the computer or their phones. Think about having them put away their phones before bedtime. Keep the family computer in a common area where everyone can see.
By removing the times where cyberbullying may take place, such as late at night or after school hours, you can encourage your children to partake in other activities while also staying safe online.
Install Cyber Dive
The majority of cyberbullying is bound to take place through various social media platforms. As it stands today, the two most popular platforms among school-aged children are Instagram and Snapchat.
Cyber Dive is a recently made app that can help you monitor your child’s activity on social media. Plus, it’s free!
While even the creator admits there is no perfect science for monitoring cyberbullying and behavior, the app does come with some handy features. It can track what your child is saying, their time spent on social media, and any alerts that might require extra attention.