Separating fact from fiction is step one in direction of making higher parenting choices. Let’s puncture a number of the most typical misconceptions about on-line harassment.
21 Aug 2025
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5 min. learn
Cyberbullying, sadly, is on the rise. Information from the Cyberbullying Analysis Middle reveals that simply over 58% of middle- and high-school college students within the US have skilled on-line harassment of some type of their lives. That’s in comparison with 37% in 2019 and only a quarter (24%) a decade earlier than that. Separate knowledge claims that over two-fifths (43%) of teen online game gamers have been bullied. Some had been known as offensive names. Others had been bodily threatened, whereas many had been despatched sexually express content material.
Dad and mom are rightly involved at such traits. However how a lot of what you consider as gospel is definitely true? Like many on-line phenomena, half-truths, myths and misconceptions can distort the fact of cyberbullying – and make it more durable so that you can make the precise parenting choices. Let’s debunk a number of the most typical fallacies:
High 10 misconceptions about cyberbullying
1. What occurs on-line stays on-line
Like many on-line traits, bullying is enabled by expertise, however has its roots deep within the human psyche. There are numerous the reason why youngsters could interact in bullying habits, from peer stress to low shallowness, consideration searching for and home abuse. Digital platforms like social media can allow them to bully others extra pervasively. Nevertheless it’s not confined to the web sphere. Bullies could wish to torment their victims in actual life in addition to on-line. And even when they don’t, the psychological harm they will inflict definitely has a real-world impression on their victims.
2. It’s simply youngsters being youngsters
Dismissing bullying as one thing youngsters do as a traditional a part of rising up threatens to downplay its potential gravity. The truth is, it might probably have a critical long-term impression on the social and emotional improvement of the person being bullied. It’s additionally true that cyberbullying isn’t simply one thing that occurs to youngsters. Trolling, doxing, revenge porn and stalking are all types of cyberbullying acquainted to most of us. Two-fifths of People declare to have suffered on-line harassment.
3. Ignore it and it’ll go away
This hardly ever works. By the identical rationale, it’s a fallacy to suppose that reporting bullying habits will solely make it worse. The truth is, typically making an attempt to disregard it might probably truly embolden the bully in the event that they consider their actions are having an impression. As this woman wrote on the Unicef web site, solely by taking concerted motion and difficult the bully immediately can there be hope of decision.
4. My youngster will inform me if there’s one thing fallacious
In case your youngster is sincere and open with you 100% of the time, you’re a fortunate dad or mum. Youngsters transfer by a number of distinct phases after they’re rising up, altering their psychological and emotional relationship with their mother and father as they go. Particularly after they transfer into the teenage years, they might be too embarrassed to let you know one thing is fallacious, or too humiliated. They could not perceive the gravity of what’s occurring to them. Or they might fear that you just’ll punish them or take their gadget away if they are saying one thing. Reassuring them that you’re there to help, not choose or punish, is among the greatest issues you are able to do to assist them open up.
5. Take away the tech and also you resolve the issue
Cyberbullying is enabled by expertise however it definitely doesn’t miraculously disappear when you confiscate your youngster’s smartphone. In the event that they’re being bullied in school, there’ll be ample alternatives for the harassment to proceed offline. Punishing your youngster by eradicating their gadget will delight the bully, and do nothing in your relationship together with your youngsters.
6. It’s nearly not possible to determine on-line bullies
Generally the cloak of anonymity on-line does empower bullies – simply because it allows cybercrime to thrive. However the actuality is that most bullies know their victims, whether or not they’re schoolmates, former mates or romantic companions. It’s additionally true that social media and different platforms are in a position to unmask sure customers if they’re confirmed to have damaged the phrases of service by harassment or bullying.
7. It’s simple to identify
The problem with cyberbullying is that it occurs nearly. It doesn’t go away bodily scars, however can definitely harm victims mentally. That makes issues troublesome for fogeys, particularly when you discover it difficult to speak brazenly together with your kids about emotions. You may’t depend on your youngster to let you know that one thing’s fallacious, for the explanations listed above. So you need to get higher at recognizing the warning indicators. Sudden modifications in habits, demeanor or educational efficiency could also be a helpful indicator. However they’re not a given. Mild inquiry may be essential.
8. Cyberbullies are evil outcasts
When cyberbullies are lastly unmasked, the reality of their identification can usually shock family and friends. Folks can say and do issues on-line that they might by no means even ponder in the actual world. Most bullies are doing what they do as a result of they themselves have been bullied or abused, as a result of they’ve low self-worth or psychological well being points, or as a result of peer stress. It’s simple to painting them because the satan, particularly in the event that they’re inflicting hurt to your kids. However the fact is normally extra difficult than that.
9. Cyberbullying causes numerous suicides
Official US knowledge notes that 14.9% of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6% of adolescents have made a critical suicide try. However correlation doesn’t indicate causation. The truth is, there are various the reason why a teenager could want to finish their life, and cyberbullying could or will not be a type of causes. At any charge, we have to be alert to the hazards that persistent on-line harassment poses to essentially the most susceptible members of society.
10. Social media platforms are guilty
Social media and messaging platforms are sometimes demonized for the function they play as “enablers” of cyberbullying. However more and more they’re being compelled by legislators to raised police their ecosystems. The UK’s On-line Security Act, for instance, is among the most rigorous such legal guidelines on this planet, imposing a “obligation of care” on sure on-line service suppliers to make sure the wellbeing of their customers. Bullying isn’t all the time simple to identify. Context, nuance, slang and linguistic idiosyncrasies are typically troublesome for algorithms to detect precisely. However they’re getting higher at doing so – as they have to. At any charge, it can be crucial for fogeys to speak to their kids concerning the dangers and pitfalls of social media.
Parting thought
No dad or mum desires their youngster uncovered to cyberbullying. But when the choice is to cocoon them away with out entry to the digital world, that might do extra hurt than good. The bottom line is to maintain your eyes open for any warning indicators, hold an open dialogue, and provide your emotional (and technical) help. Devise a plan and work the issue collectively as a group.
