There are reports that cyberbullying may be on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Sameer Hinduja, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida University, “When smartphones and social media became ubiquitous for students, cyberbullying rates went up. This makes sense, of course, because there was now an almost limitless number of potential targets and aggressors.
“During this unprecedented times when (children) are all stuck at home, those same students will be using apps even more than the already do with them being forced to use online platforms for learning, regardless of their level of comfort or proficiency.”
But if increased cyberbullying is inevitable, what can parents and children themselves do about it? This blog post explains.
5 tips to stop cyberbullying
1. Tell someone:
This may be more difficult with you being out of school but a support network does exist. If you are doing video lessons or have access to some communication with teachers then you can raise concern with school. Your parents can also be on-hand to give you advice and support that you may need. If the cyberbullying involves a crime being committed, you should inform the police.
2. Keep any evidence:
Bullying can quite easily cross a line to become criminal harassment or threat. A 2018 study found that victims of cyberbullying were more than twice as likely to commit self-harm or suicide. Should you need support from the police or school, it is important that you save all messages and communications as screenshots. Bring everything to attention of school administration (or police) that you believe has crossed the line so they can act accordingly.
3. Don’t react:
A mix of acknowledgement and avoidance is recommended by experts. Those observing the act must report the problem, whereas those on the end of the abuse are better off ignoring the attacks rather than responding. The goal of the bully is often to anger the victim, or to get them to react to their statements. The best option is to block the bully from social media so that they cannot communicate.
4. Avoid stereotypes:
From both a teacher and parent perspective it is important to avoid stereotyping when dealing with bullying. Boys may be more likely to threaten physical violence, but girls are just as likely to be the victim and the bully. Often girls can focus on emotional abuse that can be just as damaging.
5. Recognise the signs:
Parents can also be vigilant to spot symptoms of cyberbullying and step in where required. These signs include a loss of interest in activities, decline in grades, symptoms of depression, changes and appetite and a lack of sleep or routine. With cyberbullying issues, there may be a reluctance of the child to use their phone or access the internet using a computer.
How can EDArcade help with the issue of cyberbullying?
You can read more on identifying cyberbullying here.
EDArcade has a range of games-based activities aimed at raising awareness of bullying and dealing with the consequences from both the victim and the aggressor.
Buck-A-Mood: This is a great game for identifying insults. Also putting words into categories of stresses, priorities and resiliences. It is great way to improve English knowledge as well as awareness about bullying terminology.
Mountain of Aspirations: In this game you can advance in the game by avoiding negative insults. By avoiding boulders, the message of the game is being resilient to these words should not tear down your confidence.
EDArcade has more than 110 educational games to help children stay interested and engaged in learning, even when not in school. The fun maths, english, science and more games challenge understanding of tough topics in an exciting manner. We’ve also teamed up with national charities to support their revenue during this difficult time.
For more information click here or call 01909 776 906.
