Social media is an integral part of our children’s lives. It is a great way to stay connected with friends/family, but can also cause severe safety concerns if not used cautiously and safely. Youth should be informed of the dangers of giving out personal information, posting pictures, having location enabled on social media apps, and contacting strangers online. Unfortunately, with increased social media use, also comes the risk of cyberbullying.
Bullying (both in person and online) can include spreading rumors/gossip, exclusion, sharing personal information, name calling, threats to physcial and mental health, and physical harassment/assault. Relational aggression, in particular, is an imbalance in perceived power which is used to manipulate someone or make them feel excluded.
Steps to take if you are being cyberbullied: click here!
Online Resources:
- No Bullying.com: The World’s Authority on Bullying: No Bullying is an online forum aimed at educating, advising, counseling, and stoping bullying.
- Netsmartz Workshop: An interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline.