Helping kids stop cyberbullying
Everybody has a role to play in helping kids understand what’s ok and not ok online
Let’s work together to stop cyberbullying
Nobody should have to put up with online attacks, harassment, or abuse.
We all have a role to play in keeping kids safe online. Cyberbullying can have serious consequences for the children involved, as well as their families and friends.
“I’ve talked to my kids about healthy, respectful relationships online and how important it is to treat others online as you would want to be treated” – Parent of a 9 & 13 year old
Report online harm
If you're dealing with cyberbullying, image-based abuse, or someone is making you feel unsafe online, you're not alone! You can make a complaint to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
How can I help kids stop cyberbullying?
An important element of having healthy, positive relationships online and offline is respect for others and oneself.
Part of being a responsible digital citizen is understanding what respectful relationships are and applying this when we’re online. It’s important to teach kids to treat people online in the same way they would treat somebody face to face.
- Talk with the kids in your life about how they communicate online
- Discuss respect in relationships and give examples of what respectful interactions look like
- Teach kids that everybody has the right to feel safe online without being abused or attacked
- Help kids deal with difficult emotions in healthy, positive ways
- Emphasise the importance of treating others as you would like to be treated
- Talk about positive and caring interactions and how the kids themselves can be positive role models for others
Encourage positive online behaviours
Showing respect for others means behaving in ways that show you care about what the other person thinks and feels.
How can kids show respect for others?
- Understanding that things online can be easily misunderstood and sometimes it’s more helpful to say it in person or not at all
- Being able to say ‘no’ to things they don’t want to do and respecting when somebody tells them ‘no’
- Not calling people names or swearing at others
- Thinking about what the other person might feel before posting/sending a message
- Recognising when they’re upset or angry and finding healthy ways to express it
- Being kind and caring by posting/sending positive messages
- Understanding that everybody is different and that’s ok
- Not saying mean things to someone that doesn’t agree with them
- Avoid posting/sending a message in the heat of the moment when they're upset or angry
- Ask people before sharing/sending photos or videos of them
It can take more than just one conversation
Check in regularly with the kids in your life about their online relationships.
Talk often about their friendships online and offline, and anything that might be troubling them.
Encourage them to call Kids Helpline or start a webchat and talk to a counsellor if they need extra support.
For parenting support, call Parentline in your State or Territory for more guidance and strategies.
You could also visit the eSafety website to find out more about cyberbullying and what you can do.
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This content was last reviewed 08/03/2018
