This is a guest post by Amy Williams, a freelance journalist and mom of 2 in California.

Deleting Cyberbullying To Protect A Kid’s Childhood

Childhood should be a magical time, full of wonder, possibility, and close friendships with kindred spirits.

Unfortunately, this is a fantasy many of our children will never experience. We live in a world that can be cruel and disappointing at times; and as parents we often fail to believe that our children will experience situations that isolate or demean a child. One current dilemma facing more than half of our children is cyberbullying.

We often view these instances of cyberbullying as material used to create Lifetime or Hallmark movies- not as something that will happen to our own children. But the odds are stacked against us that our children will encounter some form of cyberbullying during their youth. That is why it is important for parents to be informed and aware of this current issue facing society.

The Cyberbullying Epidemic

Growing up we encountered mean kids or bullies, but we were able to escape their antics by avoiding them. We could seek solace in our homes or at a friend’s house, but today’s hyper connected teens are accessible 24/7 with social media and text messaging. The data is inconclusive on how prevalent cyberbullying really is, because many children are reluctant to admit that they have been targeted.

Some studies show that one in four children will be a victim at some point in their life and recent studies show that 95 percent of our children have witnessed cyberbullying. Our technology-loving-children are exposed to this frightening trend on a regular basis, but it is estimated that only one in ten children will seek help from an adult or parent when it comes to this epidemic.

The Consequences Of Cyberbullying

The advent of social media propelled bullying behavior into the 21st century and opened up an unending supply of avenues to attack targets. Often bullies use the anonymity of the Internet to gain access to their victim and then use the viral nature of “likes” and comments to gang up on a child. This pile up mentality often isolates the victim, because they believe everyone agrees with the bully.

Children who experience cyberbullying often pull away from peers and family. Their grades might begin to suffer as the online attacks intensify and they might begin to exhibit some uncharacteristic behaviors. There is a strong correlation between cyberbullying and depression, self harm, and attempted suicide.

As if those outcomes weren’t enough to raise alarm in a parent, there are also legal consequences facing cyberbullies and their parents. Many states and local governments are passing laws that will hold parents accountable for a child’s online escapades. Laws are continuing to adapt to this issue, so parents need to be aware of how a child’s cyberbullying could come back on them.

What Can Parents Do To Prevent Cyberbullying?

The best advice for parents is to strive to teach children with adequate social media skills. We need to instill a sense of digital citizenship and keep informed about our child’s cell phone and Internet activity. Without proper guidance, our children are forced to sort through a nightmare of digital foes on their own.

For more information about cyberbullying and ways parents can make a difference, please read the following infographic: