Tips for protecting your kids from cyberbullying

The digital world has much to offer, but the dangers of mobile and online communications are real. Unless you’ve hacked a daily report of your child’s electronic transmissions (not a real thing—or is it?), you probably don’t know the full extent of your kid’s online activities. Where you may need to lay down a mile or two of iron curtain is in the area of online security. Specifically, any risky behavior that can be easily broadcast, replicated, or retained.

You need a plan to help your child thrive and stay safe online—away from cyberbullies and other predators. Fortunately, help is available for parents and kids to prevent and deal with cyberbullying and inappropriate image sharing crises.

Cyberbullying is real-life bullying, exponentially expanded. It can happen to anyone. Worse, if your child is wandering into any kind of high-risk behavior, some chucklehead “friend” of theirs is likely to broadcast either the exploit itself or legends of the exploit across multiple social media channels. The resulting shame can lead to traumatic and irreversible circumstances.

Below is a list of free apps, tools and tips from AT&T that can help parents protect their children from cyberbullying and create awareness around the problem. These apps and tips apply to ANY wireless customer.

Anti-Bullying Apps

· BullyBlock – (Android – FREE) – This app captures and blocks bullies that are causing you and your family harm. The Bully Block app allows users to covertly record verbal threats and harassment, block inappropriate texts and pictures (e.g. sexting), and utilize auto respond features. Bully Block blocks bullies that utilize private or unknown numbers to engage in cyberbullying. Bully Block also has instant reporting features that allow the user to email or text abusive behavior to parents, teachers, HR departments, and law enforcement. All audio, messages, and calls are stored on the phone SD card.

· TipSubmitMobile – ( Apple iOS, Android – FREE) – TipSubmit Mobile allows tipsters to submit secure and anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers, law enforcement agencies or school safety officers and administrators. Thousands of communities, schools and government agencies are covered by this application since it connects directly with TipSoft, the world’s largest and North America’s only, truly anonymous tip reporting system. Tipsters could receive rewards of up to $1,000 in the U.S. and up to $2,000 in Canada for information submitted to Crime Stoppers and nobody will ever know your identity.

· Bully Stop (Android – FREE) – This app helps protect your children from bully calls, texts and picture messages. The app gives your children the ability to block calls and messages from people they don’t want to hear from. Bully Stop uses a Block List to block unwanted callers and texters. The app maintains a password-protected call log of all attempted contact with your child so you can approach the relevant people, parents, teachers or police and show proof of the bullying communication.

· White Pages Caller ID & Block – (Android – FREE) – This app that lets you know who’s calling and receive helpful alerts about unwanted callers and spam.

· Bully Free Zone – (Android – FREE) – An app for younger kids, the Bully Free Zone app features Captain McFinn and encourages kids to join him in helping to put an end to bullying. The app includes a bully free pledge, a cartoon that shows how Captain McFinn stopped his bullying ways, a kindness calendar that tracks the child’s kind actions.

Anti-Bullying Tips and Tools

· Take advantage of parental controls. Ask your provider about parental controls available to you. For example, AT&T has Smart Limits which allows parents to block unwanted calls and texts from up to 30 numbers and restrict texting and data usage during specified times of the day.

· Be aware of what your kids are doing online. Talk with your kids about cyberbullying and other online issues regularly.

o Know the sites your kids visit and their online activities. Ask where they’re going, what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with.

o Tell your kids that as a responsible parent, you may review their online communications if you think there is a reason for concern.

o Ask for their passwords, but tell them you’ll only use them in case of emergency

o Ask to “friend” or “follow” your kids on social media sites or ask another trusted adult to do so.

o Encourage your kids to tell you immediately if they, or someone they know, is being cyberbullied. Let them know you will not take away their device if they confide in you about a problem.

· Establish rules about appropriate use of computers, cell phones and other technology.

o Be clear about what sites they can visit and what they are permitted to do when they’re online. Show them how to be safe online.

o Help them be smart about what they post or say. Tell them not to share anything that could hurt or embarrass themselves or others.

o Encourage kids to think about who they want to see the information and pictures they post online. Think about how people who aren’t friends could use the information.

o Remind them to keep their passwords safe and not to share them with friends because sharing that information could compromise their control over their online identities and activities.

Your goal is simple: Create an environment where your child feels comfortable coming to you if they experience bullying.

Check in frequently. Tell your kids what their options are if they see or experience cyberbullying, and share the other resources your child can reach out to (online, teachers, relatives).

Urge your kids to say “stop” and to speak with someone in their support system. By reaching out to their network of friends, family members, and authority figures, they might not only protect themselves, but start a mini revolution for good.