Parenting has always been a tall task, but an assortment of new challenges have emerged as the world has shifted during the digital age. No child is immune to bullying, and modern parents can probably point to at least one instance when they were bullied during childhood. But that bullying may bear little resemblance to cyberbullying, a relatively recent phenomenon that can be extraordinarily harmful to kids.
The Cyberbullying Research Center notes a scarcity of studies exploring cyberbullying, which can make it harder to determine how prevalent it is in the lives of modern students. However, the National Crime Victimization Survey reported in 2022 that more than one in five students who were bullied reported being bullied “online or by text.” Parents know it can be hard to track youngsters’ lives online, as they must walk a fine line between respecting children’s privacy and doing what’s necessary to keep them safe and happy.
Various children’s advocacy groups note that kids are unlikely to tell their parents that they’re being bullied out of fear that doing so will make the situation worse for them. Others may be reluctant to share they’re being victimized by cyberbullying because they fear they will lose access to their devices. That makes it imperative that parents remain alert and learn to spot warning signs of cyberbullying.
Being upset during or after using devices: Devices play a big part in the lives of adults and children alike, so parents can keep an eye open whenever their children use a smartphone, tablet or another device that connects to the internet. Cyberbullying may cause children to grow upset while using their devices or after using them.
Inexplicable changes in personality: A 2024 report from the Cyberbullying Research Center notes that many targets of cyberbullying report feeling depressed, sad, angry, and frustrated. The same report notes researchers have linked cyberbullying with low self-esteem, anxiety, school violence, and suicidal thoughts, among other outcomes. Students who exhibit sudden changes in their personality, including issues with anxiety and becoming withdrawn, may be targets of cyberbullying.
Unanticipated changes in friendship groups: Sudden changes in friendship groups is another potential warning sign that a child is being cyberbullied. This sudden shift could be sparked by the child’s own friends being the perpetrators of cyberbullying, which can occur after a dispute. The Cyberbullying Research Center report noted that cyberbullying aggressors don’t have to see their targets’ immediate responses to the bullying, which is perhaps one reason why it can be easier for a child to bully someone who was once his or her close friend.
A dip in academic performance: Cyberbullying can affect kids in every aspect of their lives, including their performance in the classroom. A nationwide study of tween cyberbullying conducted in 2020 found that 6.5 percent of tweens who were cyberbullied indicated the bullying influenced their schoolwork.
A decline in physical health, changes in sleep patterns, avoidance of social settings like extracurricular activities, and behaviors that suggest children are lonely are additional warning signs that kids are being cyberbullied. Parents are urged to take any of the signs noted here seriously. More information about cyberbullying can be found at cyberbullying.org
