Helping teens cope with cyberbullying
Cyberbullying affects many teenagers across Canada. AboutKidsHealth has a new resource for teens to help them learn what cyberbullying looks like and what they can do to protect themselves and others.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is the use of the internet, texting and social media to intimidate, spread rumours, put down or make fun of someone.
It can include:
- sending threatening messages
- sharing personal information, photos or videos without permission
- creating a website or social media profile to make fun of someone or pretend to be someone else
- excluding people from messaging groups or email lists on purpose
Because it’s possible to create anonymous or fake accounts online, teens may not even know who is cyberbullying them. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can follow a teen everywhere they go at all hours of the day.
How can teens keep themselves safe online?
To protect themselves online, teens should be taught the following:
- Do not share passwords or other personal information online, especially with anyone they do not know.
- Never send nude photos to anyone. If they or the person in the photos are under the age of 18, the teen could be charged with distributing child pornography.
- Make a copy of any bullying messages before deleting them. Harassment or inappropriate messages can be reported on most social media sites and apps.
Who can teens talk to if they are experiencing cyberbullying?
If a teen is being cyberbullied or knows someone else who is being cyberbullied, they should talk to a trusted adult, such as a family member, teacher, coach or guidance counsellor.
If they feel comfortable and safe doing so, a teen can also try standing up to their bully without being aggressive and without cyberbullying back. They can let the person know that what they’re doing is not OK and they won’t forward or respond to the messages.
If a teen has been threatened or if a crime has been committed, they should call the police. If someone has assaulted them or has threatened to hurt them, that is a crime and the teen or trusted adult should call the police to intervene.
To learn more about what teens can do to prevent cyberbullying and keep themselves safe online please see the article What to know about cyberbullying.
AboutKidsHealth is SickKids’ health-education website and features more than 3,500 articles on a range of health topics. For more information on cyberbullying and other health topics, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca.
