How to help a child being cyber bullied
- Encourage open communication with kids and teenagers about the internet to let you know if they feel bullied or intimated.
- Empower them to know there is help and ways in which they can protect themselves.
- An example of empowerment is to block the bully and change privacy settings.
- Learn about and download the Cybersaftey Help Button here.
- If someone has posted anything inappropriate about your child online, contact the social media service provider to remove it.
- Collect evidence; screenshots of incriminating messages, images, conversations and print emails.
- Report cyberbullying to your child's school or if warranted, the local police.
Where to get help
Online information
Report an incident of cyberbullying or related event
- ThinkUKnow - Youth website
- Crimestoppers - 1800 333 000
- Local police station
- ACORN - Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network
Emotional support and advice
The impact of
cyberbullying on the victim
- How a person
responds to being cyberbullied is individual for everyone.
- Various
responses, as mentioned in “The Issue” post are common. Some of these common reactions are; feeling alone or isolated, anxious,
scared, miserable and powerless as well as sadness, ashamed, rejected and/or
hopeless.
- Cyberbullying is
often unprovoked and unfair. Therefore,
often the victim responds in anger, as the cyberbullying attack is unwarranted.
- Cyberbullying
can impact many aspects of the victims’ life including their relationships with
friends and family, their performance in school or in their sporting interests
to name a few.
- Cyberbullying
can lead to anxiety and depression. (Beyond Blue, 2015)
The impact of
cyberbullying on the perpetrator
- “Whilst
cyberbullying doesn't appear in any Australian laws, the actions which we call
cyberbullying could fall under other laws, such as stalking, harassment and
defamation.” (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)
- “In Australia,
the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old which means that if you are
10 years old or above, you could be held criminally responsible for your
actions.” (ThinkUKnow, n.d.)
- Cyberbullying by its very nature is unethical.
- There isn’t a specific law against
cyberbullying, however, there are laws against the following related offences;
- Stalking
- Bullying
- Assaults/threats
- Harassment
- Vilification (ThinkUKnow,
n.d.)
- Vilification can be defined as "knowingly
or recklessly incite hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule on the grounds
of race, religion, sexuality or gender identity in a way that includes
threatening or inciting physical harm. This may be done via internet or email.”
(ThinkUKnow, n.d.)
- For information on cyberbullying related laws
relevant by State refer to the ThinkUKnow hyperlink.
- The Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting
Network (ACORN, n.d.) states that, “under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) it is an offence
to use the internet, social media or a telephone to menace, harass or cause
offence. The maximum penalty for this offence is three years imprisonment or a
fine of more than $30,000.” (ACORN, n.d.)
- Australian children are protected by the
Federal Government via the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner. Children are able to submit a complaint if
cyberbullying is experienced.
- Follow the ACORN link to learn more about
cyber-crime and/or to “Report a cybercrime”.
