How to spot if your child is a victim of cyberbullying

How to spot if your child is a victim of cyberbullying

What are some of the most common warning signs that your child is experiencing online harassment?



Cyberbullying is by no means a new phenomenon; in fact, the term was added to the Oxford Dictionary back in 2011. However, as technology permeates almost every facet of our lives, the threat of online harassment is becoming more and more prevalent. It is increasingly common for schoolchildren to own smartphones, which often go hand-in-hand with social media accounts. This hyper-connectivity combined with the anonymity that the internet affords means that kids are increasingly at risk of cyber-abuse.


Online harassment is continually reported to be on the rise, and one in three parents worldwide report knowing a child in their community who has been cyberbullied. This form of bullying can be even more damaging than in-person bullying and can affect victims long into their adulthood. That said, it is not always easy to distinguish between common childhood or teenage issues and potential signals that your child is being cyberbullied. To help, we have taken a look at several common warning signs that might indicate that your child is being targeted by a cyberbully.


Unexplained physical changes


The first thing to look out for is noticeable physical changes. While this isn’t a sure-fire sign of cyberbullying, if your child has suddenly lost weight or appetite, has trouble sleeping during the night, or looks stressed out in the morning, it is worth having a conversation about whether everything is okay.


School avoidance


Similarly, if your child is regularly pretending to be ill to avoid going to school, th ..

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