The accessibility of social networks and the internet to kids today becomes a threat to their safety and emotional health. Many experts say that an estimated 160,000 children would rather stay at home because of fear of bullying. Now, bullying can reach them wherever they are because of the internet and social networking.
It poses a great amount of responsibility on the parents to make sure their kids are safe and secured from acts of bullying may it be personal or through the internet. According to Jesse Miller, a social media education expert at Mediated Reality, says that parents should act like lifeguards in the social media pool, making sure no one can bully their child.
Based on recent statistics, more than half of teens have been bullied online and have of them participated in cyber bullying. One out of three people have experienced being bullied online. Moreover, 25% of teens have been bullied repeatedly online and even in their cell phones.
Since the safety of children are utmost priority, parents and educators like their teachers should work hand in hand in the purpose of eradicating such acts of violence and bullying that can cause emotional stress to children. In fact, many suicide attempts have been rooted to bullying in school and in the internet.
This data is alarming for officials as well as parents. There are ways that can help parents save their kid from this act of violence. According to BullyingStatistics.org, some ways to prevent bullying can be done to make sure that bullies cannot hurt their children. Parents should talk to teens about cyber bullying, explaining that it is wrong and can have serious consequences. Furthermore, encourage teens to tell an adult if cyber bullying is happening.
Also, blocking the person who is bullying the child can be helpful. If the abuse is sexual in nature, the teen should keep the messages as proof so they can report it to authorities. There are many ways parents can protect their children; the first thing to do is of course, help their children express their feelings so that they can count on the parents whenever something is troubling them.
