Offline fix for cyber bullying - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times

Offline fix for cyber bullying - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times
Two out of three parents think children don't understand the implications of cyberbullying.
Telstra's latest cybersafety research reveals that 62per cent of parents with children aged between 10 and 17 believe children fail to connect cyberbullying with its repercussions even though 95per cent of those parents have discussed internet safety issues with their children.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's cybersafety general manager Jackie Van Vugt said the results showed that in addition to discussing individual safety, parents needed to talk to their children about how their online conduct might affect others.
''Cyberbullying can be quite traumatic for young people,'' she said. ''They can often feel more alone than if the bullying was occurring in person and where there's a chance someone may hear or see something and intervene.''
Ms Van Vugt said there was a range of ways children could become involved in cyberbullying, many of which were not obvious.
''Children often become involved in cyberbullying by passing on or commenting on damaging material, rather than creating it,'' she said. ''And it can be hard for kids to understand that they are actually hurting someone online because they can't see the other person's face or sense the emotional impact.''
Ms Van Vugt said there were some easy ways parents could explain to children what was acceptable or not online.
''A good way to help your child understand whether their online behaviour is acceptable is to ask them if they'd be willing to stand up at school assembly and share what they've done,'' she said.

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A better way to help every child will be for schools to have an anti-bullying information and discussions added to school curriculum such as PDHPE.