COLUMN: How to tackle keyboard warriors and cyber bullying

This week we take a look at how parents can look out for warning signs of cyber bullying.
Cyberbullying logo.Cyberbullying logo.
Cyberbullying logo.

Facts:

- Nearly 43 per cent of kids have been bullied online. One in four has had it happen more than once.

- More than 80 per cent of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying.

- Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.

- Bullying victims are two to nine times more likely to consider committing suicide.

- About 75 per cent of students admit they have visited a website bashing another student.

To most of us, these are disturbing facts.

Technology can be a wonderful thing if it is used in the right manner.

Unfortunately, there are always a few people out there that enjoy bullying.

Some people have nothing better to do with their lives than to sit at a computer for hours on end trolling different websites and picking on different people within the post, or comment section.

Children are not the only ones that cyber bully.

Adults do this as well.

That, to me, is even more disturbing in that the adult mind-set should know better.

This is why I encourage parents to monitor the sites their children go on. Do random checks on your child’s Facebook and other social media, as well as add them as a friend. (Facebook requires a minimum age of 13 to create an account(in some areas it may be older).

Check the history of sites visited and the times of the day they were visited by the browser history. (CTRL H)

Warning signs of Cyber Bulling include but are not limited to:

- Behaviour such as sadness, being moody, or anxious

- Skipping school

- Withdrawal from or showing a lack of interest in social activities

- Drop in grades or decline in academic performance

- Appearing upset after using the computer or being online

- Appearing upset after viewing a text message on a cell phone

If your kids show any of these warning signs, have a talk with them. Keep your kids cyber safe.

- Chips Computers are based on Heywood Street in Brimington, Chesterfield. They can be contacted via 01246 200214 or online at www.CHIPSPC.co.uk or www.WeFixAnyComputer.com.

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