Cyberbullying is a relatively new type of bullying characterized by technological modalities, which make it slightly different from traditional bullying. It usually implies the use of various technological devices or services as a bullying instrument. Cyberbullying May be defined as “the use of information and communication technologies (…) to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others” (as cited in Wong-Lo et al., 2011). Despite the distinction between traditional and cyberbullying, it is evident that the common factor is malicious intent.
In the modern realities of communication becoming more digitized, it is exceptionally important for parents to know of the warning signs to look out for in case their child is being bullied online. The first sign is if a child is feeling uneasy about going to school. It is crucial for parents or guardians to recognize this as a major sign that a child is scared of their school environment. The fact that they are uncomfortable around classmates is concerning since it might imply they are being taunted or bullied via social media. If a child regularly begs to skip classes or come home early, this might be a reason to raise the alarm and question whether they are a victim of bullying, including cyberbullying. The second sign is if kids are visibly upset after going online. The outburst of negative emotions after surfing the Internet is a possible sign of a child being victimized by cyberbullies (Wong-Lo et al., 2011). Sadness and agitation are some of the most common indicators of a child consuming unsettling or downright hurtful content about themselves on the web.
The third warning sign is if a kid tries to isolate themselves and withdraw from social interactions with their classmates or just peers, in general. Wong-Lo et al. (2011) indicate that it is one of the most noticeable reflections that something is wrong. The fact that a kid feels uncomfortable around their peers to the point of limiting interactions with them indicates an issue in communication. If a child only feels safe on their own, this may be an indicator that their interactions with peers are mostly negative, leading to the conclusion that they are bullied.
The fourth sign, deals with academics, specifically the drop in performance and grades. School involvement and academic achievements are some of the primary indicators that a child is successful in their school environment. The negative changes in performance might be a reflection of inner conflicts kids can have. Under the circumstances that everything is going well, one of the child’s main priorities is getting good grades at school, which is manageable if there are few to no outside distractions. Atypically poor performance can thus serve as an indicator that a kid’s attention is focused on something else, possibly hurtful comments online or hateful messages on social media.
The fifth and final sign is the unwillingness of children to discuss their online activity with parents. Although privacy is an integral part of each person’s identity and space, secretiveness regarding the content consumed and the texts sent via a variety of devices might be a source of concern. Children will often feel embarrassed or upset about the instances of cyberbullying they have endured. This might result in them being scared to speak out and share the details of their so-called “online life.” As with any other of the aforementioned signs, parents should pay closer attention if they notice abnormal behavior, often indicating an unfortunate pattern of cyber victimization
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