School bullying is no longer confined to the walls of the school; I've even written an article to help children deal with these events. With the advent of digital technologies, it has also moved online, taking the form of cyberbullying, cyber discrimination, and cyber harassment. This type of bullying can be just as devastating, if not more insidious, as it follows the child into their private life without any adult being able to notice unless they are vigilant.

Raising Awareness About Cyberbullying

The first step in protecting your child from cyberbullying is to make them aware of the dangers online. Explain to them what cyberbullying is, how it manifests, and why it is so harmful. Discuss the inappropriate behaviors they might encounter, such as insults, threats, or public humiliation on social media.

Ensure your child knows never to share personal information online and to use privacy settings to limit access to their profiles.

It goes without saying that sharing photos of themselves, as well as the trend of selfies or TikTok videos, can also be a ticking time bomb.

Developing Responsible Digital Skills

Teach your child to use digital technologies responsibly and intelligently. This includes adopting respectful online behavior, never participating in cyberbullying, even indirectly, and standing up for victims when they witness such behavior while reporting these issues.

Encourage them to think before posting anything online, considering the possible consequences. By teaching them to evaluate the impact of their digital actions, you help them protect themselves and others.

There is also another aspect that only parents can fully grasp: the unimaginable importance of their future digital life for recruiters who already scrutinize all public and even private accounts of their future employees. What they post today will be their business card tomorrow.

This article doesn't aim to delve into the impact of screens and social media on young people's and adolescents' brains, so I'll stop there on this topic.

Identifying Online Sources of Support

Just as in school, it’s important for your child to know who to turn to if they become a victim of cyberbullying. Explain how to block bullies on social media and how to report inappropriate behavior to the relevant platforms.

But it doesn't stop there; platforms don't always have the diligence required to handle these issues properly.

Make sure they understand that you are there to support them and that they should always inform you if they encounter problems online. You can also reach out to teachers or school counselors to keep them informed and to intervene if necessary, especially when they form WhatsApp groups even though it's prohibited by the school.

Strengthening Self-Esteem in the Face of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can have the same devastating effects on a child's self-esteem as any other form of bullying. It's crucial to support them by regularly reminding them of their worth and praising their accomplishments in a measured way.

Encourage them to focus on their passions and surround themselves with positive people who support them and treat them as they believe people should be treated, reinforcing their human values. Activities outside of school, such as sports or the arts, can also be an excellent way to boost their self-confidence.

Implementing Online Avoidance Strategies

Teach your child to recognize the early warning signs of cyberbullying and to avoid online interactions that could escalate. This includes not responding to provocations and walking away from discussions where they feel attacked.

However, sometimes some individuals target classmates without them even being present in the discussion groups or aware of it. This is where having a close and loving group of friends can make all the difference by acting as regulators or alert signals.

It’s also important for them to understand that walking away from a toxic situation is not a sign of weakness but a strategy for self-protection. This is only the beginning of their learning to define the character of the people they welcome into their circle of friends, so it's important to help them without passing judgments that might push them away. To do this, it may be preferable to adopt a questioning posture to get them to reflect so that they come to certain conclusions on their own, which is often the most effective approach.

Maintaining Continuous Vigilance

Online bullying can be difficult to detect as it often occurs out of sight of adults. Stay vigilant by monitoring your child's use of technology and regularly discussing their online experiences. Some parental control tools exist, but they are not enough.

Be attentive to signs of distress, such as reluctance to use social media or sudden mood changes after being online. Continue to encourage open communication and ensure your child knows they can always come to you with anything that bothers them. The more you are caring and open to dialogue about the solutions to implement, the more likely they are to open up. Yes, it’s easier said than done.

Of course, I could have sensationalized the points discussed, but I thought it was more important to focus on the basics of the solutions to be implemented to anticipate, rather than falling into sensationalism or fear-mongering.