Cyberbullying: The signs you might be missing

How do I know if my child is being cyberbullied?

In today’s digital world, a lot of what our children experience happens behind a screen. When viewed from the outside, cyberbullying can be hard to detect, almost invisible. It is hard to know and sometimes accept your child is being cyberbullied or potentially cyberbullying, so it is important to recognize the signs. HMD commissioned a global study of nearly 25,000 children and parents¹. Within this study we found that 56% of children reported being insulted or made to feel small online, this already high number doesn’t include the children who were too scared to report it.

There is a way to help and try and minimize the risk. With the help of supportive technology like the HMD Fusion X1 and the HMD Fuse, here’s how parents can feel more empowered as their children navigate the digital world amongst challenges like cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that takes place within or via the online world. It takes place using digital devices like smartphones, tablets, computers and more. The key here is that is it the repeated and intentional action of another individual, better known as the cyberbully. The act of cyberbullying can include sending or receiving mean/threatening messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing pictures, intentional exclusion and more. Unlike traditional forms of bullying, wherever your child has their device they can be bullied – 24/7.

Signs that your child may be being cyberbullied

Although it can be harder to spot, there are signs that your child could be exhibiting that could be a result of being cyberbullied. Some children may feel confident enough to tell their parents that they are experiencing cyberbullying, others may not – here are some signs to watch for:

• Seeming upset after going online or suddenly withdrawing from their device
• Changes in moods/behaviors – this can include becoming quiet, increasingly anxious or agitated and more
• Avoiding activities they used to enjoy
• Becoming secretive about their behavior on their device

By monitoring these signs, you may be able to identify that your child is experiencing a tough time online or intercept the cyberbullying before it becomes too much.

Is my child a cyberbully?

This can be a confronting question, after all, we don’t want to believe our children are capable of bullying another child online. However, many children unknowingly take part in cyberbullying or fail to realize the real-world implications of their actions. Some actions to look out for that could be signs that your child is cyberbullying while online can include:

• Becoming overly defensive about online activity when asked.
• Minimizing or being seemingly insensitive to others’ distress online
• Multiple accounts or ‘burner accounts’ (could be anonymous or not)
• Showing little empathy when discussing peers

Most importantly, it is imperative to talk to your child about these actions before becoming accusatory, explain why they are not nice actions and give them a chance to explain their side of the story. Confrontational discussions like his have a chance of going better when both sides feel heard.

Preventing cyberbullying early

Encouraging healthy digital habits as early as possible is one of the best prevention tactics for cyberbullying. Teaching your child the appropriate behavior online, learning online choice still have real world consequences and making them feel comfortable enough that they can tell you if they feel like they are being bullied online. Some great tactics include:

• Setting age-appropriate boundaries for screen time and use of social media
• Having regular check-ins for discussing online behavior, respect and kindness
• Encourage open communication that is comfortable and free from judgement
• Using parental controls when appropriate
• Being a role model both online and in the real-world by demonstrating the appropriate way to speak to others.

While completely diminishing the risk of cyberbullying is impossible, parental controls are a great way to help control it. The HMD Fusion X1 and the HMD Fuse are both equipped with parental controls that you can use to ease your child or teen into their smartphone experience. With controls like app controls, screentime monitoring, location tracking and contact whitelists, you can help your child and teen flourish in the online world.

You can find out more information about the HMD Fusion X1 here: https://www.hmd.com/en_int/hmd-fusion-x1

You can find more information about the HMD Fuse here: https://www.hmd.com/en_int/hmd-fuse