This week is Stay Smart Online Week in Australia, an Australian government initiative designed to help Australians understand the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online. Today, we hear from our Pacific Marketing team on ways Symantec is helping parents and kids deal with cyberbullying.
Here at Symantec, we strive to provide educational resources, online tools, and information to people all over the globe on topics such as online safety, cybercrime, and emerging threats. Some of the most frequent questions our experts are asked are around how parents and caregivers can keep children safe online. Recognising and dealing with cyberbullying is of particular concern to many people, children and their caregivers alike.
For example, according to Symantec’s Norton Family Report Edition – released this week - 32% of Australian kids have been harmed by cybercrime and/or a negative online situation during 2012-2013.
Additionally, 76% of children who reported being victims of cybercrime, or negative online activity, admitted to hiding what they do online from adults, including their parents and teachers.
In support of Stay Smart Online Week, we’ve developed a tip sheet for parents, and one for children, to address some of the most common concerns surrounding this key component of cybercrime - cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is carried out through an Internet service such as email, chat room, discussion group, online social networking, instant messaging, or web pages. It can also include bullying by SMS through mobile phones.
How can I minimise my child’s risk of being cyberbullied?
- Develop some ground rules, together with your children, around computer, mobile, and Internet usage.
- As part of the ground rules, you may want to monitor or limit the amount of time your children have access to the Internet or mobile phones.
- Don’t wait until your kids have reached high school before talking about cyberbullying. Initiate an open dialogue as soon as they begin going online, so they know they can come to you with any questions right from the start.
- Let your children know what to do if they witness cyberbullying. Make sure your children know they must not engage in cyberbullying, even if all they are asked to do is visit a site, open an email, pass along a cruel message, or add their comments to a mean social networking page. Give them the confidence to respond to a cyberbullying victim with kindness, support and friendship.
- Keep talking about it. An ongoing open dialogue with your children will help you spot potential warning signs, or help them through a difficult situation – whether they are a target or a witness.
What do I do if my child experiences cyberbullying?
- Tell your child not to respond. A response gives the bully or bullies the reaction they seek – silence will confuse them.
- Keep a copy of any bullying messages. You never know when a full record of events will be needed by a school official or law enforcement.
- If appropriate, report the cyberbullying to the website or provider, or to the principal, a teacher or counsellor at your child’s school.
Cyberbullying has the potential to impact a young person’s mental health. In Australia, Symantec partners with beyondblue, a nonprofit organisation working to increase awareness and understanding of anxiety and depression, to raise awareness of the harmful effects of cyberbullying.
For more information about Symantec’s commitment to protecting children and families online, visit the Your Information section of the Corporate Responsibility website.
Pacific Marketing