Cyberbully and Covid-19

The secretive nature of cyberbullying. Despite doing our best to keep our kids safe, sometimes cyberbully still gets through.

We’ve all made fun of individuals sitting across the table from one another, watching their phones and tablets rather than at the person right ahead of them. Sometimes we ask one another across the table through our phones! My wife and that I have had public and humorous conversations on FaceBook while sitting a couple of feet from one another within the same room.

More often though, we see and offer criticism of this social media behavior and have a tendency to call it anti-social behavior.

Now, with Covid-19, we’re all reception and out of faculty, out of labor, and social-distancing. And with people wanting to stand back from one another, these devices we criticize – and use – are a godsend. From our in-place shelters, we will reach out virtually to our loved ones, and get them organized these devices for as little as $50 if they don’t’ have already got them – especially the elderly. We do face-to-face time through Messenger video, but apart from yelling to neighbors across the road, we’re all equivalently distant now.

But there’s a flip side. With such a lot time on their hands, there’s almost bound to be a rise in cyberbullying. With such a lot fear of “the other” – religion, ethnicity, gender orientation – there’s bound to be a rise in unwanted behavior as boredom sets in and digital mischief increases. It seems that this virus could engender viral behavior.

Cyberbully-ing is characterized by hate speech, rude or sexual images, spreading of rumors, aggressive, hurtful behavior spread via data communication – phones, tablets, computers. Such cyberbullying can affect a child’s – or any person’s for that matter – mental and emotional well-being, self-image, and behavior.

What to do?

If you’ve got children’s reception, it’s useful to place parental controls on their devices, limiting the time of usage and maybe the sites they will visit. Encourage them to be in common areas of the house where you’ll observe and intervene if they’re experiencing certain sorts of unwelcome or harmful communication.

Don’t answer the behavior from the bully – it’s generally best to not engage the person sending out such rudeness because it’s likely to escalate and persist. Much of this sort of behavior is for attention-getting. Giving the offender the eye that they crave will likely encourage them to continue and to heighten the behavior.

Take screenshots to document the behavior do you have to got to report it, which may help in communicating to authorities or the varsity if necessary. Different devices use different procedures for the needs of screenshots. Googling your device and “screenshot” should get you to an instruction page or video. Of course, you’ll take a photograph of the screen employing a camera or a particular phone. Make sure to urge everything on the screen, including dates and times, text and pictures, handles and usernames.

Block the person. Most apps and devices provide a way to dam a cyberbully or “friend” on social media for any reason whatsoever.

If the offender may be from your school or your child’s school, report the behavior and the person ASAP. As far as varsity might not be answering their phones because numerous are closed now, better to send an email to the varsity. Include the documentation you’ve gathered. It’s possible to file a complaint with the Department of Justice, but do remember that they’re receiving thousands of claims or more. So it might seem likely that you simply would receive more timely assistance locally.

Perhaps most significantly, ask your child and encourage them to precise their feelings about the behavior openly and without judgment.

We sleep in exciting times, for sure. And that they are undoubtedly challenging! But with a touch of encouragement, a bit of observation, and a touch of listening. We will make this a time to deepen relationships instead of a time of heightened abuse.

Stay Away From Cyberbully . Be Safe. Stay Home