Top 10 Forms of Cyber Bullying Every Parent Should Know

Understanding Cyber Bullying and Its Forms

Cyber bullying is a rapidly growing global issue that affects countless children and teenagers. Being aware of the various forms this digital harassment can take is the first step in protecting your loved ones. Here, we outline the top 10 types of cyber bullying that every parent should be familiar with.

Exclusion

Exclusion in the digital realm involves deliberately leaving a child out from online activities, conversations, or social media interactions. This could range from not being added to group chats to being untagged in social media posts. Children without access to the latest technology might be more susceptible to this form of exclusion.

Harassment

This form involves persistent and intentional sending of abusive or threatening messages. It can significantly impact a child's mental health, leading to stress and anxiety.

Outing

Outing is particularly humiliating as it involves sharing private or embarrassing information about someone without their consent. This could be as simple as reading a child’s text messages aloud without permission.

Cyber Stalking

Cyber stalking includes continuous harassment where the bully uses online platforms like email or social media to intimidate or threaten a child. In severe cases, it might also involve adults using these platforms to exploit young people.

Fraping

Fraping occurs when someone accesses and uses another person’s social media account to post inappropriate content under their name. This can damage reputations since posted content is difficult to completely erase from the internet.

Fake Profiles

Creating fake profiles is a common tactic in cyber bullying. Bullies use them to hide their identity while harassing others, sometimes even using another person’s email or phone number.

Dissing

Dissing damages a child's reputation through cruel online posts about them. This includes sharing harmful photos, screenshots, or videos that could ruin friendships and social standing.

Trickery

Trickery involves gaining trust only to betray it by publicly sharing private conversations or information. It often starts with befriending the victim before turning against them.

Trolling

The aim here is provocation—bullies insult others online specifically to elicit angry responses. They target individuals with the intent of upsetting them through direct attacks on forums and social networks.

Catfishing

The act of catfishing includes stealing someone’s identity and creating fake profiles for deceptive purposes. These imposters may use personal details gleaned from real profiles to cause confusion or harm reputations.

Protecting Your Child Online

The best defense against cyber bullying is awareness and proactive measures such as educating your children about these risks, encouraging open communication about their online experiences, monitoring their internet usage, and setting up appropriate privacy settings on their devices and accounts. Sharing knowledge about these common forms of cyber bullying can empower parents and guardians alike in creating safer digital environments for our children.

Article created from: https://youtu.be/0Xo8N9qlJtk?si=_ER8zm-PxCy6NJRN