Prevention is better than cure!

In today’s society, there are several ways in which people are being victimized by bullying and cyberbullying is one of them. Cyberbullying can be referred to as an aggressive act or behavior by using technology or electronic means against a certain group or an individual repeatedly and over time. Cyberbullying occurs not only on online in social media platform, but in home or school and any place where technology is assessable such as SMS, Text, gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content.

Nowadays we can see that many adolescents spending countless hours using social media and somehow they are being a victim of cyberbullying or involving in cyberbullying.

Forms of Cyberbullying:

• Sending a hurtful and threatening text message to others
•  Spreading rumors to embarrass or ruin someone’s reputation.
• Using someone’s personal information to create fake social media accounts or web pages and making fun of others
• Uploading someone’s personal pictures or videos without permission
• Forwarding sexually explicit images (sexting) or pressurizing children to send sexual images
• Repeated prank calls
• Sending nasty comments on chat or online games.
• Continuously harassing and denigration including threats of physical harm.

These kinds of activities can make numerous negative impacts in adolescents/ teenagers lives including poor academic performance, school dropout, family problems, mental health problem, delinquent behavior, physical violence or even it can lead towards suicide.  So, it is very essential for any parents to recognize the signs of cyberbullying.

Here are some signs that can help you to figure out whether your child is a victim of cyberbullying or not.

1. They appear upset, nervous and frustrate during or after going online: This is the most obvious sign of cyberbullying. If your child seems upset, stressed, frustrated during after going online then there is definitely something going wrong with his/her.
2. They become more secretive with their device: Adolescents these days demand privacy on their things but increased secretiveness is a warning sign of cyberbullying. If your child seems more secretive with his/her device than usual like ignoring everyone and using the device in a separate room than there is the high chance that they are facing cyberbullying.
3. They become isolated and anti-social: If your child seems to be severely unhappy, avoid family gathering, distant everyone in his/her life and only wants to be in their room alone,  it could be a warning sign of cyberbullying.
4. Trouble at sleeping: If your child is unable to sleep or wake up suddenly at night and get frightened all of sudden that this is because they are tormented by cyberbullies. Don’t take it lightly.
5. Change in behavior: If you find changing behavior in your child such as they do not want to go to the school/college, lose interest in favorite hobbies, avoid social gathering, not eating well and seems angry, moody, depressed, frustrated after receiving text or calls then there is a high chance that your child is being cyberbullied.  
6. Talking about suicide or making a suicide attempt: This is a serious warning sign. Don’t take it easily! Talk to your child and help them to get out from this. Visit counselor if needed.

If you find your child being cyberbullied than make them feel safe and secure and try to be their good friend. Support them to take an action against it. Don’t forget that they are a victim and it is someone else who is doing the wrong with them.