As a parent, do you worry about your child being bullied on the internet or via mobile phone?  In this article Webwise explains what Cyber bullying involves and gives some tips for young people.

What is Cyber bullying?

Cyber bullying includes the following:

• Sending nasty, mean or threatening messages, emails, photos or film
• Silent phone calls
• Putting up nasty posts or pictures on a bulletin board, website or chat room
• Saying hurtful things in a chat room
• Pretending to be someone else in a chat room or message board or text message and say horrible things
• Accessing someone’s accounts to scare them or make trouble for them

Related: Advice for Parents on Cyber-bullying

Tips for Young People

• Do trust your instincts. If it doesn’t look or feel right, it probably isn’t. If you find something online that you don’t like or makes you feel uncomfortable, turn off the computer and tell an adult.
• Do not keep this to yourself! You are NOT alone! Tell an adult you know and trust!
• Do not delete messages from cyber bullies. You don’t have to read it, but keep it, it is your evidence.
• Don’t send a message when you are angry. Wait until you have had time to calm down and think. You will usually regret sending a “Flame” (angry message) to someone else. Once you’ve sent a message, it is VERY hard to undo the damage.
• Don’t open messages from people you don’t know.
• Don’t reply to messages from Cyber bullies! Even though you may really want to, this is exactly what cyber bullies want. They want to know that they’ve got you worried and upset. They are trying to mess with your mind and control you, to put fear into you. Don’t give them that pleasure.

If you are worried about cyberbullying or want any further information visit the Webwise facebook page

Webwise is an Internet safety awareness initiative of the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) comprising a range of information, advice, and tools for teachers, parents and students.

Its Mission is to promote safer use of the Internet and mobile phones by school children in Ireland, their parents & teachers and to transform actual dangers into risks that they can master as autonomous, responsible users.