{
    "id": 2553,
    "date": "2021-05-18T18:30:37",
    "date_gmt": "2021-05-18T13:00:37",
    "guid": {
        "rendered": "http:\/\/emindit.com\/?page_id=2553"
    },
    "modified": "2023-11-07T17:49:47",
    "modified_gmt": "2023-11-07T12:19:47",
    "slug": "social-media-use-and-cyberbullying",
    "status": "publish",
    "type": "post",
    "link": "https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/en\/social-media-use-and-cyberbullying\/",
    "title": {
        "rendered": "Social media use and cyberbullying"
    },
    "content": {
        "rendered": "<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2553\" class=\"elementor elementor-2553\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8e8507 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f8e8507\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55d8316\" data-id=\"55d8316\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd748a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dd748a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h4><b>What is social media?<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media refers to any digital platform, system, website or app that enables people to create and share content, and connect with each other. It can be a difficult to understand why your teenager uses social media so much. It might seem like they&#8217;re always online, and always distracted from the life in front of them. Social media is a way for teenagers to stay in touch with their friends. Teens have always talked after school, long before social media \u2013 hanging out at the bus stop, at the local park, chatting on the phone \u2013 now they just have a different platform to do so.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e742eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"5e742eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:start}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active{border-bottom:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:12px 10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-9901\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-9901\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Here are a few of the most popular sites that teenagers use, and how they work:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-9901\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-9901\"><ul><li><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>A free site where registered users (aged 13 and up) can share pictures, links, videos, and other content with their &#8216;friends&#8217;. Friends are other registered users you have connected with within the network. Most of the time, anything you share will only be seen by the people you have &#8216;friended&#8217;. Facebook changes it&#8217;s privacy settings regularly so it&#8217;s important to stay up-to-date with their settings and policies.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>A free image sharing service that is used mainly on mobile devices. On Instagram, it&#8217;s common to connect with people you don&#8217;t know but share common interests with (for example, Taylor Swift). You can have a public account or a private account where only friends can see your posts. Instagram also has their own privacy settings to stay up-to-date with.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Snapchat<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>A mobile phone messaging application that allows you to send video or picture messages to one or more people at a time. The messages are only viewable for a few seconds at a time, as determined by the sender. However, there are ways of saving the images using other phone functions.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Tumblr<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>A blogging website where people can publish their own articles and share it with people who follow their blog or profile. They also view the content of people they follow. On Tumblr, it is more common to connect with people you don&#8217;t know in real life than people you do.<\/p><ul><li><strong>WhatsApp and messaging services<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>WhatsApp and messaging applications let you contact friends using internet data (or wifi) instead of your mobile carrier, which reduces the cost of messaging. It can be used without a sim card if connected to a wifi network. It is popular because it allows you to send messages to a group of friends at one time.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Other games and sites<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>YouTube, Club Penguin, or online games like World of Warcraft are also considered social media because of the way they enable social interaction.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-9902\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-9902\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why teens use social media?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-9902\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-9902\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media is a way for teenagers to stay in touch with their friends. Teens have always talked after school, long before social media \u2013 hanging out at the bus stop, at the local park, chatting on the phone \u2013 now they just have a different platform to do so.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is an important part of socialising and connection in the modern world. Teenagers and social media use is increasing, the main reasons teenagers regularly use social media include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talking to friends<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joining in on group conversations<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning about current events and staying up to date with online content<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meeting new people<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not having anything to do, or feeling bored<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling like they might miss out if they aren&#8217;t always up to date with social media<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-9903\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-9903\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What are the benefits of social media for teenagers?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-9903\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-9903\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being socially connected is very important for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychological development of your child<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and in this day and age, the online environment is where they get a lot of this. By connecting with others through social media, your child could:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop better social skills<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel less isolated<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about new cultural and societal ideas and issues<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bond with their friends<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have fun<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be creative and share their own ideas with friends<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be better equipped to be active citizens in society<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop real world skills to help them become more independent<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about world events and current affairs outside of their immediate environment.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-9904\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-9904\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What are the risks of using social media<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-9904\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-9904\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like any form of social engagement, social media comes with risks. Some of the most common risks include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending too much time online<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and being disconnected from the real world<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being the victim of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online bullying<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damaging your online reputation<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having your personal information shared online<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being harassed or annoyed by someone you do not want attention from<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being the victim of an online scam<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduced self-esteem<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (for some teenagers).<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like in the offline world, there are things you can do to protect your child from these risks. It&#8217;s important to prepare them for how to respond if these things do occur.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes teenagers can feel a &#8216;compulsion&#8217; to check their social media accounts frequently, but this is generally only in extreme cases. Helping your teenager to develop positive habits like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">taking regular breaks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from checking social media, and making sure notifications are turned off so that their mobile device isn&#8217;t distracting can help reduce the compulsion to check in with social media so often.<\/span><\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-9905\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-9905\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">When to know if something is wrong<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-9905\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-9905\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever your child is doing, it&#8217;s important to be aware of their behaviour and their wellbeing. If you notice big changes in:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their energy levels and enthusiasm for offline life<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their engagement in normal conversation<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amount of time they spend doing other activities, like sport, homework, and other hobbies<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their self esteem and sense of self worth,<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then it might be good to talk to them about their use of social media. A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">family screen audit<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you figure out the household rules around screen use.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other than being online,the way to help children build<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childmind.org\/article\/12-tips-raising-confident-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> healthy self-esteem<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is to get them involved in something that they\u2019re interested in. It could be sports or music or taking apart computers or volunteering\u2014anything that sparks an interest and gives them confidence. When kids learn to feel good about what they can <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of how they look and what they own, they\u2019re happier and better prepared for success in real life<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8c4952 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8c4952\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><b>Managing social media risks for children and teenagers<\/b><\/h4><h4><b>Talking about social media use<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talking is the best way to protect your child from social media risks and ensure their internet safety. Talking gives you the opportunity to help your child:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work out how they want to treat other people and be treated online \u2013 for example, you can encourage your child to make only positive comments<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">understand the risks involved in using social media \u2013 for example, your child might be tagged in an embarrassing photo taken at a party<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">learn how to navigate the risks \u2013 for example, if your child posts an identifiable selfie, they can reduce risk by not including any other personal information<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">learn what to do if people ask for personal details, are mean or abusive online, post embarrassing photos of your child, or share information that links back to them.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Finding out more about social media<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media platforms and functionality are always changing so it\u2019s a good idea to keep up to date with the social media your child uses. You could ask your child what platforms are popular and which ones your child likes. You could also get your child to show you how they work.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>Thinking about age recommendations<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many social media platforms have age restrictions, which often aren\u2019t enforced. It can be tricky if your child\u2019s friends are using social media platforms before they\u2019re old enough and your child wants to do the same.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want your child to wait, here are some options you could think about:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Could you compromise? What if your child uses a family social media account until they\u2019re old enough for their own? This could give your child a way to connect with friends with your help to navigate social media.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Could your child use a child-friendly social media platform, like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">YouTube Kids<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Messenger Kids<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? These have stronger safety settings and age-appropriate content.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4>\u00a0<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef4af6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"ef4af6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2501\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2501\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What about banning social media?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2501\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2501\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media is becoming increasingly embedded in apps, games, websites and even learning environments, so it\u2019s hard to ban, even for younger children. And if you ban social media, your child might be more tempted to check it out when they\u2019re away from home. This means you miss the opportunity to teach your child how to navigate social media risks and behave respectfully on social media.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Internet safety <\/b><b>for teenagers<\/b><b> is about identifying and managing risks and also protecting your data and privacy.<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2502\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2502\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How Can I Help My Teen with Social Media Addiction?\u00a0<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2502\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2502\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Help them with effective coping mechanisms:<\/strong> When used as a way to cope with sadness, social media can quickly negatively affect a teen and leave them feeling even more empty, or envious, or frustrated. Effective coping mechanisms should help a teen overcome or adapt to their troubles, rather than providing escapism. Hobbies that help a teen improve themselves mentally or physically, meditation and spiritual activities, long walks alone or time spent with a therapist \u2013 these are methods that help a person effectively cope with issues by becoming outlets for stress and helping them find a healthy perspective with which to tackle their problems.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Manage their screen time:<\/strong> The internet should be used as a tool, with online media as a source of entertainment or information. But when online media becomes what your teen preoccupies themselves with at almost every hour of the day, they become simply unable to think about, or focus, on anything else. How is a person expected to do anything in the real world when their hands and thoughts are on screens and online? As intertwined as our lives have become with the internet, many teens struggle to balance that with the responsibilities and challenges of living. Managing a teen\u2019s screen time and encouraging them to do so on their own, for their own health and future, is critical.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Encourage continued treatment after recovery:<\/strong> treatment options for social media addiction may help a teen in the short-term, but it\u2019s important to follow up and encourage them to continue seeking help for their problems, or encourage them to seek out help the next time they feel that they\u2019re slipping, or struggling with certain emotional problems.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Setting up social media guidelines<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some written guidelines about social media can help your child get the benefits of social media while using it responsibly, respectfully and safely. This agreement could be part of a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">family media plan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If these guidelines include <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your social media use<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as well as your child\u2019s, you can be a positive role model.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some things your guidelines could include.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>Using social media<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This might cover basics like:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it\u2019s OK to use social media and how long your child can spend on social media<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether it\u2019s OK to use social media during homework time, family meals and so on<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where it\u2019s OK to use social media \u2013 for example, only in family areas of the house, not bedrooms.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Posting content and comments<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important for your child to agree to:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not uploading or sharing inappropriate messages, images and video<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Showing respect in posts and when sharing content \u2013 for example, if it\u2019s not OK to say or do something face to face, it\u2019s not OK online<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeking consent before posting images of others.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Protecting privacy<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a good idea to go through social media privacy guidelines and settings with your child.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child can protect their privacy by agreeing to:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not share personal information like phone numbers, location and date of birth with strangers online, or with people they don\u2019t know personally<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not add personal details like phone numbers or date of birth to private profiles<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly check privacy and location settings, especially on mobile phones<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep passwords and log-in details private and not share these with friends<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Log out after using public computers<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disable features like posting to multiple social media sites at once.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Staying safe on social media<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safety essentials for your child include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blocking and reporting people they don\u2019t know or people who post upsetting comments or content<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not clicking on pop-ups \u2013 some pop-ups that seem safe can lead to pornography sites or ask for personal or financial information<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accepting friend requests only from people whose identity they know<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking screenshots of concerning things they see online, and talking to a trusted adult about them<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being on social media can be a really positive experience for you and your teenager. Here are some ways you can demonstrate positive online behaviour and encourage your teenager to do the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h4><b>Lead by example<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning how social media works, and engaging with it in a positive way, is a great way to show your child what is and isn&#8217;t okay to do online. Here are examples of positive online behaviour that you can model for your child.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Keep your own privacy settings up-to-date<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and show your children how to stay on top of theirs<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Think before you post.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ask yourself if your comment is constructive before you post.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Don\u2019t hide behind your profile picture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Social media is not anonymous. Your online reputation will stay with you for a long time. If you wouldn\u2019t say something to someone\u2019s face, don\u2019t say it to them online.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Give yourself a \u2018rule\u2019 about who you connect with on social media<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and who you do not. For example, if you would stop and say hi to them on the street, you will add them as a Facebook friend. This helps to demonstrate boundaries in the online world.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Find topics your family are interested in and talk about it.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Take the conversation online by commenting on a group or page about the topic, and show your children how to connect with others safely and respectfully on issues that they care about.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Demonstrate respectful conversations online<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Show your child that some people may have different opinions to you. Treat people with the same respect you would give them face-to-face and report troll-like or bullying behaviour instead of engaging with it.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Being &#8216;friends&#8217; with your teenager online<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being friends with your teenager on social media can be a very positive thing. It can help you demonstrate positive behaviours online, and creates a shared experience. When \u2018friending\u2019 your children online, there are a few things to keep in mind:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>This is a personal social space<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Just like when they hang out with their friends offline. Try to give them space and privacy by not liking or commenting on every single thing they post online.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Talk offline about their online behaviour.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If something happens on your teenager&#8217;s social media page and you feel like you need to step-in, do it offline. Commenting on social media about personal issues is not really appropriate, and won\u2019t encourage trust and respect in your relationship. Instead talk in person about what happened online and how they could react or respond in a more positive way.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><b>Your teenager might not be showing you the whole picture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That\u2019s okay. Young people are pretty savvy with technology, and they may have worked out how to block you from seeing some posts. It\u2019s important that you respect their privacy, and have a chat with them if you feel that they are not being open or transparent enough.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Encouraging positive experiences<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media is no longer an abstract space for computer whizzes, it is a parallel world where we are accountable and responsible for our actions. If you log-on and start abusing &#8216;Sharon&#8217; the local news reader for wearing an ugly dress on the morning news, you&#8217;re showing your child that it&#8217;s okay to abuse people in the real world. Therefore, your responsible online behaviour should reflect the type of online behaviour you want your child to model.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You play an important role in helping your teenager understand the consequences of their behaviour online. You can help to do this by:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding them accountable for their actions online.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treating <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cyberbullying<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as seriously as bullying in the playground. If you see your child participating in cyberbullying, trolling, or other anti-social behaviour online, talk to them face to face about their actions.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">being bullied online<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, show them how to block the individual and report it offline, with their school or the police.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are friends with your children online, bring up things you have seen them engage with in the online space, to remind them that their online actions impact people in the real world too.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a conversation with them about how easy it is to link a profile back to an individual person, even if a fake name is being used.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2503\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2503\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What does cyberbullying look like?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2503\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2503\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyberbullying comes in many forms but the most common are:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Receiving intentionally hurtful text messages, emails or direct messages on social media sites<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People spreading rumours or lies about someone online<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People sending images or videos intended to humiliate or embarrass someone<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People sending threats to someone<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People setting up and using fake online profiles to embarrass or intimidate someone.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2504\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2504\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How is it different to other forms of bullying?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2504\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2504\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bullying is a kind of behaviour that is designed to cause intentional harm. Cyberbullying can be even more distressing because of its very public and uncontrollable nature. For example:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no limit to who can view or take part in cyberbullying<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be very difficult to remove content shared online<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bullies can be anonymous<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Content can be accessed through search engines<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s hard for people to escape the bullying, especially if they use technology in their everyday lives. It\u2019s suggested that young people can be more likely to bully someone online than they would in real-life, as they feel less accountable for their actions due to the nature of the online world.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>Keep your teenager safe from cyberbullying<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only around 1 in 10 young people inform a parent or trusted adult of cyberbullying. Some reasons for this low number include embarrassment, fear of not being believed, fear of having the issue trivialised, or losing access to technology. Taking proactive steps to educate your child about what they can do about cyberbullying can be a good way to ensure they approach you for support when they need it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2505\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2505\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What are the effects of cyberbullying?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2505\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2505\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The effects of cyberbullying on teenagers can range from:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower school attendance and performance<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased stress and anxiety<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feelings of isolation and fear<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor concentration<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased self-esteem and confidence<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In extreme cases the cyberbullying can lead to suicide.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The effects of cyberbullying are similar to the effects of bullying, but the main difference is that it&#8217;s much harder to avoid, because it can follow your teen home from school and make them feel like they&#8217;ll never be able to escape it. Make sure your child knows it&#8217;s not their fault, they&#8217;re not alone, and that there are ways to deal with cyberbullying.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>How to be proactive about cyberbullying<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be proactive about cyberbullying you can:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensure that your child only friends and chats with people on social media that they know in real life<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensure that privacy settings are set on all your child\u2019s social media accounts<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">make sure your child knows not to share or give out passwords<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensure that your child knows how to block, delete or report anyone who is upsetting them online.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>How to prevent your teen from being cyberbullied<\/b><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educate yourself on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cyberbullying<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and figure out the best way to address it\u2013 this will help you to be prepared if it ever occurs.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chat to your teenager about sharing photos online, especially risqu\u00e9 ones. Explain that once they\u2019re online they can lose control of who sees them pretty quickly and that can lead to name-calling and shaming unfortunately.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remind them to ignore messages from people they don\u2019t know. The internet can be a great place to make new friends but it is still super important to be extra cautious due to fake accounts and trolls<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To ensure they are on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">private<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can google their name and if they have social media it will pop up on your search \u2013 if their accounts are on private you won\u2019t be able to see any posts.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure they know that cyberbullying is wrong and they shouldn\u2019t do it. If you\u2019re teenager engages in this sort of behaviour online it may open doors for people to think they have an excuse to cyberbully your child.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get them engaged in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offline activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That way if something does happen online they have things to do that they enjoy.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, the less time they spend on their devices, the less likely it is that they will be cyberbullied.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4><b>What to do if you know your child is being cyberbullied<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no perfect strategy on how to solve cyberbullying, although, if you know your child is being cyberbullied, the first thing to do is to be supportive and empathetic. Make sure that they know it\u2019s not their fault. Cyberbullying is serious and upsetting, so try not to minimise or trivialise the situation in order to make your child \u2018feel better\u2019. Avoid the temptation to stop your child going online at all; this will more likely result in them not telling you if it occurs again.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ways to offer emotional support to your child include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">speak to your child and really listen to what they have to say. Thank them for opening up to you, and let them know that you want to put an end to the bullying.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">never blame your child for experiencing cyberbullying. The way young people interact online may seem excessive to adults, but bullying is never the fault of the person being bullied.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">acknowledge their feelings and don\u2019t try to dismiss their experiences, even if it doesn\u2019t seem like a big deal to you.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reassure them that there are people who can offer support, whether this is you, their teachers or other professionals and services.<\/span><\/p><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if your child is distressed about the bullying, encourage them to speak to a mental health professional, or direct them to services that can help. This may be a school counsellor, or a service like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kids Helpline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eeae9da elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eeae9da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"--fontFamily: &quot;Baloo 2&quot;, Sans-Serif; --fontWeight: 700; --fontSize: 25px; --lineHeight: 1.5; border-width: medium; border-style: none; text-align: left; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; text-decoration: none;\"><b>What to do if your child is being cyberbullied<\/b><\/h4>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: var(--content-spacing); border-width: medium; border-style: none; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;\">Being bullied can leave a young person feeling like there\u2019s no one out there who can offer support. If your child is being bullied online, one of the most important things is to reassure them that there are people who can help. You can report the incident to&nbsp;<span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyberbaap.org\/cyberbullying\/reporting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CyberBAAP<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\">Cyberbullying can be a crime and you<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\">&nbsp;can file an online complaint to<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cybercrime.gov.in\/Webform\/Crime_AuthoLogin.aspx\" style=\"font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); transition: var(--transition);\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.<\/a><span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--color); font-style: var(--fontStyle, inherit); letter-spacing: var(--letterSpacing); text-align: inherit; text-transform: var(--textTransform); text-decoration: var(--textDecoration);\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: var(--content-spacing); border-width: medium; border-style: none; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;\"><b>National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal Helpline: <a href=\"http:\/\/tel:1930\" target=\"_blank\">1930<\/a><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>",
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