Prevent Cyber Bullying Tip Sheet

•   Educate your children on the danger of cyber bullying
  • Many children will not only be frightened but also confused on what to do if they are the victim of a cyber bully.
  • Be sure to educate your children and encourage them to tell an adult if they are being bullied.
• Don't open or read any messages from a cyber bully
  •  Your child will not be intimidated by a cyber bully if he does not open messages sent by them
  • Teach your child to ignore and report messages from a cyber bully to a trusted adult.
  •  Many email clients and messaging services have features to block messages from certain individuals.  Make use of these utilities.  They will be helpful in eliminating the cyber bully's attacks.
• Don't respond to the cyber bully with anger
  • A cyber bully will feed off of your anger since that is the reaction that they are looking for.  Don't give them that satisfaction.  It will only fuel them even more.
•  Save the evidence and report cyber bullying
  •  Internet service providers are sometimes able to block cyber bullies.  Schools and law enforcement also have their own procedures they follow when it comes to cyber bullies.
  •  Make sure that you save any and all emails and/or messages sent by the cyber bully because they may be needed to take action.
•  Report any type of threat to law enforcement immediately
  • If a threat is made on your life or on your child's life report it to law enforcement immediately even if you do not know who is sending the message