Netsafe research has discovered that one in five young people in New Zealand are bullied online every year. This is a scary fact. Online bullying is when someone, or a group of people do something online that causes distress to another person. This is not just a one off thing, but has been done with the intention of causing harm. This is why it is important to teach your child tools for what to do if they experience online bullying.

Things to talk to your child about include:

• Explain that this kind of bullying often doesn't go away on its own and it is important to know what to do

• Discussing that if it is not acceptable in real life, it is not acceptable online

• Reminding them that if something is happening online, they need to share this with a trusted adult and ask for help to solve this issue.

• Explain to them that there is a law, the Harmful Digital Communications Act, that was set up to protect people from this kind of bullying and lays out 10 principles for how you should communicate online.

• Ensure your child knows how to take a screenshot so that they can report what is happening to a trusted adult, or the platform they are using to get the bullying to stop.

If a child is secretive about what they are using the device for, shuts the lid as you walk in the room, or moves so that you can’t see the screen, this could indicate that something is wrong. Don’t ignore these signs but investigate what is happening. Stopping unwanted communication before it escalates is a lot easier.

Unwanted Contact

As your child gets older they may want to play games which allow communicating with others. For younger children it is a good idea to turn the chat function off on these games. It is also important to note that all games have age limits that are there for a reason. Make sure you look into these before allowing your child to play more advanced games. Waiting for the correct age also teaches your child respect for the rules of the company that has created the game.

When communicating online with others, make sure your child is aware that it is easy for someone to pretend to be someone else online. Make sure you discuss what to do if someone they don’t know wants to chat with them and what to do if the chat makes them feel uncomfortable. Teach your child not to reply to these messages and that by not replying they are taking control of the situation. Remember to ensure they know that it is important to tell a trusted adult if anything online makes them feel uncomfortable.

For further information about online bullying, unwanted contact or keeping your child safe online, go to www.netsafe.org.nz. John Parson’s book, Keeping your Child Safe Online, is also available through the school office for you to borrow.