Is your child always on their smartphone or computer? Is your child behaving closed off or crankier? These are clearly the signs that you have to step in between and monitor their activities. It is possible that your child might be going through cyberbullying and it might be the time to call a good cyberbullying lawyer.
What is Cyberbullying?
Before diving into the preventive measures, it is crucial to understand the meaning of cyberbullying. It is a type of bullying or harassment through digital devices such as laptops, computers, tablets, and smartphones. The mode of harassment can be chat rooms, social media, and gaming in the form of verbal abuse and hateful comments. This can also include false information and nasty remarks on an individual that leads to character assassination or humiliation.
There are several types of cyberbullying that make it vital for young adults, parents, and teachers to report the crime. It is best to take preventive measures against cyberbullying, including:
- Publishing the nasty and embarrassing video or photo.
Issuing threats that can lead to conditions like suicide.
Faking an identity or stealing someone’s identity.
Posting nasty, hurtful and humiliating content such as comments and rumors.
Creating a nasty online page to ruin someone’s image.
Doxing is another concern that meaning publishing personal data over the internet in the form of defamation, and harassment.
Flaming (vulgar and anger language), polling (making fun of an individual), sexting, cyberstalking, and unsafe digital communities are other aspects of cyberbullying.
There are cyberbullying laws against such crimes that can help the victim to come over such situations.
How Teacher Can Prevent Cyberbullying?
The lack of awareness is the major issue that makes students to shy away from reporting the crime. One of the most powerful tools that a teacher can offer to kids is awareness about cyberbullying and how they can take a step against such a crime. Along with this, teachers must place rules around the digital world to limit their access to digital devices.
Apart from this, there are several strategies that teachers can opt to secure the future of their kids.
1. Report Abuse – As mentioned above, the students can feel shy or embarrassed in sharing issues like cyberbullying with any adult. In such a case, it is ideal to drill it in the mind of students that it is absolutely fine to report any sort of abuse. The students can share it with their parents, elder siblings, and teachers to make sure that they are safe for the future.
If the issue is extremely serious then it is best to get in touch with a good cyberbullying lawyer to get the best advice or file a case against the abuser. It is best to let students know to not be scared of peers since adults will only help them. Let the kids know that they are still free to use digital devices but, it is best to be honest with adults to solve things at the initial level.
2.Open Communication – If you are expecting that a kid will come and share the problem with you, then it is not true. It is crucial for students to know that they are free to come to their teachers and parents in case of any problem. Open communication can help them to share things as soon as possible before things escalate to worse. Otherwise, kids can be extremely stressed and stop thinking logically.
If you believe that students are not open to speak up about online harassment with anyone, then there is the option of the anonymous box. It is a great way to keep the information safe. The school can also inform students about local organisations and hotlines so that they can report the issue anonymously.
- Restoration – The major issue that increases the fear of students is punishment for punitive interventions. The school authorities must have policies that help students to make amends instead of aggressive punishments. It is essential to address the incidences in healthy ways to motivate students to share their issues with adults.
This will not only help students to have healthy relationships, be empathetic, and responsible. The reintegration and forgiveness are vital aspects covered up in the restoration that help students to understand the harm due to an action. Along with this, it concedes the behaviour of the student, make amends, and commit that similar action will not occur again.
The teacher’s responsibility is not just to teach their students about good or wrong. It also includes ensuring that they are safe and their human rights are safe. Cyberbullying is an extremely crucial issue that is faced by students. It is vital for the school administrator to participate actively to address cyberbullying concerns with students to safeguard them. If things go out of hand then one can easily take help from the cyberbullying lawyer.
