Bullying and Internet Safety

Posted by mctracy On May 29, 2023

With technology becoming more and more prominent in education, internet safety for children becomes increasingly crucial as they have more access to the world wide web. In Florida, anti-cyberbullying is a top concern. The question remains, how do we keep children safe in the cyber sphere?

“Nearly one in four students ages 12-18 experiences bullying. It can eat away at a student’s self-esteem and make attending school a serious challenge. That’s why staff from the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, regularly travel to area schools to shine a light on this behavior at an early age.” (Department of Justice).

There are many ways a child can be unsafe on the internet. Bullying is prominent, as well as age-inappropriate content being consumed by minors. Other ways a child can be unsafe on the internet include talking to strangers, clicking on unknown links or videos, and overall having access to things children should not have access to.

“Since most websites don’t impose strict age restrictions, your kids are at risk of coming across disturbing content all the time. But even websites with existing warnings like Twitch or YouTube make the blocks bypassable. All it takes is switching your birth year or clicking a “See Anyway” button. Some cyberpunks submit explicit content on child platforms, disguising it as a Peppa Pig episode or something similar to get kids to click it.” (Private Internet Access).
This becomes increasingly concerning the more access to the internet a child has. With computers and tablets being given out for educational purposes, it's important to know what child-locks to put on devices.

“If your child needs to do research, encourage them to use a child-friendly search engine, like KidRex, Kibble, or Google SafeSearch. KidRex is the best for underage users as it shows results approved for children and sports a fun dinosaur theme, which makes it a little bit more entertaining. For older children not easily impressed by a T-Rex, Kibble and Google SafeSearch actively filter and block inappropriate search results.” (Private Internet Access).

In Florida, students discussed their experiences with cyberbullying.

“Most recently, more than 100 fifth and sixth graders gathered in the Academir Charter School East gymnasium in Doral, Fla., for a presentation about bullying, cyberbullying, and tips to stay safe on the internet. According to research, one typically bullies because he or she likely was bullied themselves. And rather than stop the cycle of behavior, they choose to bully for fear of becoming a victim. ‘When being bullied, don’t take the bait,’ said Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Darcey Lindsley. ‘Don’t get upset because that’s exactly what they want you to do. If someone says you’re ugly, respond with well I think you’re beautiful.’ And always report bullying. When it’s reported, there is a record of it.” (Department of Justice).

Other ways to combat cyber bullying and other internet dangers include creating a healthy culture of internet safety within the family. Talk to your kids about the dangers of the internet and how to avoid cyber bullying and cyber-attacks.

“This will also make your kids more likely to stick to the rules — otherwise, they’ll have to deal with the consequences you both agree on. It could be anything from limiting time online to taking away their devices altogether.” (Private Internet Access).

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