The 28th of February is International Stand up to Bullying Day, a semi-annual event that encourages people to take a visible, public stance against bullying.
In the age of social media and Internet access, bullying has become a worryingly common epidemic plaguing young people.
According to a 2018 report on 28 countries by research company Ipsos Global Advisor, South Africa has the highest prevalence of cyberbullying, based on a majority (54%) of South African parents who know of a child in their community who has been the victim of cyberbullying, up 24% from 2011.
According to Casey Rousseau from 1st for Women Insurance, which launched SA’s first cyberbullying insurance policy in 2018: ‘While many social-media platforms are taking their policies seriously when it comes to reducing cyberbullying, children remain at risk. This month, the controversial platform TikTok launched ‘family safety mode’ after noting concerns about harmful material like the mind-boggling skull-breaker challenge, which has already claimed a life, but more still needs to be done.’
While social-media platforms may institute safety features and policies, parents should still keep an eye on their children’s online behaviour, and look out for any potential red flags.
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Rousseau explains: ‘Not only is there bullying, but what’s also concerning is that children are objectifying themselves as they mimic their favourite celebrities; young are boys mouthing the words to rough videos. So the question remains, is this even the right platform for kids?’
Rianette Leibowitz, cyberbully expert and founder of non-profit company SaveTNet Cyber Safety, shares her advice on what parents need to consider.
‘It is almost impossible to be clued up on all the various platforms our children are exploring and we do rely on the mainstream media to help stay informed, but as parents you can also join groups on social media, attend seminars and see what educational sessions your children’s schools might be offering. You need to try to stay as informed as possible,’ she advises.
As well as being informed yourself, it’s important to explain to your child exactly what cyberbullying is and how to identify it, and to let them know that it’s not normal or acceptable behaviour, and that they can speak up when they need help.
Here are some online safety rules you can enforce with your children:
- Research the privacy settings, terms and conditions and usage rights of the platforms your children are using so that you have an understanding of how they work.
- Get on to the platforms yourself to see what they are sharing or engaging with online.
- Set up a social-media or Internet-usage agreement with your children so that you are both on the same page of what is acceptable or unacceptable behaviour. This involves their privacy settings, which pages they can visit and who they can talk to.
- If you feel you need to take it a step further, you can use parental control and safety features on certain platforms.
You can also wear pink on the 28th of February to visually symbolise standing up against all bullying – both online and offline.
‘While we cannot always control the Internet and social-media usage of our children, we have to be realistic that they are susceptible to being bullied. It is important then that we, as parents, equip both them and ourselves as best as possible to deal with this issue,’ says Rousseau.
Image: iStock/Highwaystarz-Photography
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