Cyberbullying: Parents and Schools Must Respond to Cyberbullying

An article in today’s The Washington Post defines cyberbullying as a result of “lack of maturity, lack of supervision, and technology.”  Here is where the problem frequently lies: Teens often avoid reporting cyberbullying to their parents for fear of their computer privileges being taken away.  As a result, parents simply don’t hear about these potentially dangerous issues which can be severely emotionally disturbing to a victim.  This is one of the main reasons why parents must take an active role in learning about their child’s online activities. 

If cyberbullying issues arise, parents should respond quickly and in a supportive manner to thwart the negative impact cyberbullying has most likely generated.  Children need to feel protected, so if the problem escalates, parents should not hesitate to call the local authorities. 

Also, schools must create clear “no tolerance” policies against cyberbullying, just as they do conventional bullying. There is hope that teen will become more mindful about cyberbullying, but only if parents and schools show concern over the issue.