Separating reality from fiction is step one in direction of making higher parenting choices. Let’s puncture a few of the most typical misconceptions about on-line harassment.
21 Aug 2025
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5 min. learn
Cyberbullying, sadly, is on the rise. Information from the Cyberbullying Analysis Middle reveals that simply over 58% of middle- and high-school college students within the US have skilled on-line harassment of some kind of their lives. That’s in comparison with 37% in 2019 and only a quarter (24%) a decade earlier than that. Separate information claims that over two-fifths (43%) of teen online game gamers have been bullied. Some have been referred to as offensive names. Others have been bodily threatened, whereas many have been despatched sexually express content material.
Dad and mom are rightly involved at such tendencies. However how a lot of what you imagine as gospel is definitely true? Like many on-line phenomena, half-truths, myths and misconceptions can distort the fact of cyberbullying – and make it more durable so that you can make the best parenting choices. Let’s debunk a few of the most typical fallacies:
Prime 10 misconceptions about cyberbullying
1. What occurs on-line stays on-line
Like many on-line tendencies, bullying is enabled by expertise, however has its roots deep within the human psyche. There are various the explanation why youngsters could interact in bullying conduct, from peer stress to low shallowness, consideration searching for and home abuse. Digital platforms like social media can allow them to bully others extra pervasively. However it’s not confined to the net sphere. Bullies could need to torment their victims in actual life in addition to on-line. And even when they don’t, the psychological harm they’ll inflict definitely has a real-world influence on their victims.
2. It’s simply youngsters being youngsters
Dismissing bullying as one thing youngsters do as a traditional a part of rising up threatens to downplay its potential gravity. Actually, it could have a critical long-term influence on the social and emotional growth of the person being bullied. It’s additionally true that cyberbullying isn’t simply one thing that occurs to youngsters. Trolling, doxing, revenge porn and stalking are all types of cyberbullying acquainted to most of us. Two-fifths of People declare to have suffered on-line harassment.
3. Ignore it and it’ll go away
This not often works. By the identical rationale, it’s a fallacy to assume that reporting bullying conduct will solely make it worse. Actually, typically attempting to disregard it could truly embolden the bully in the event that they imagine their actions are having an influence. As this woman wrote on the Unicef web site, solely by taking concerted motion and difficult the bully immediately can there be hope of decision.
4. My baby will inform me if there’s one thing fallacious
In case your baby is trustworthy and open with you 100% of the time, you’re a fortunate dad or mum. Youngsters transfer by a number of distinct phases once they’re rising up, altering their psychological and emotional relationship with their mother and father as they go. Particularly once they transfer into the teenage years, they could be too embarrassed to inform you one thing is fallacious, or too humiliated. They might not perceive the gravity of what’s taking place to them. Or they could fear that you simply’ll punish them or take their system away if they are saying one thing. Reassuring them that you’re there to help, not decide or punish, is among the greatest issues you are able to do to assist them open up.
5. Take away the tech and also you resolve the issue
Cyberbullying is enabled by expertise however it definitely doesn’t miraculously disappear in case you confiscate your baby’s smartphone. In the event that they’re being bullied in school, there’ll be ample alternatives for the harassment to proceed offline. Punishing your baby by eradicating their system will delight the bully, and do nothing on your relationship together with your youngsters.
6. It’s virtually inconceivable to establish on-line bullies
Generally the cloak of anonymity on-line does empower bullies – simply because it allows cybercrime to thrive. However the actuality is that most bullies know their victims, whether or not they’re schoolmates, former mates or romantic companions. It’s additionally true that social media and different platforms are in a position to unmask sure customers if they’re confirmed to have damaged the phrases of service by harassment or bullying.
7. It’s simple to identify
The problem with cyberbullying is that it occurs just about. It doesn’t depart bodily scars, however can definitely harm victims mentally. That makes issues troublesome for folks, particularly in case you discover it tough to speak overtly together with your youngsters about emotions. You possibly can’t depend on your baby to inform you that one thing’s fallacious, for the explanations listed above. So you must get higher at recognizing the warning indicators. Sudden adjustments in conduct, demeanor or tutorial efficiency could also be a helpful indicator. However they’re not a given. Mild inquiry can also be crucial.
8. Cyberbullies are evil outcasts
When cyberbullies are lastly unmasked, the reality of their id can typically shock family and friends. Folks can say and do issues on-line that they might by no means even ponder in the true world. Most bullies are doing what they do as a result of they themselves have been bullied or abused, as a result of they’ve low self worth or psychological well being points, or resulting from peer stress. It’s simple to painting them because the satan, particularly in the event that they’re inflicting hurt to your youngsters. However the reality is normally extra sophisticated than that.
9. Cyberbullying causes a lot of suicides
Official US information notes that 14.9% of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6% of adolescents have made a critical suicide try. However correlation doesn’t indicate causation. Actually, there are lots of the explanation why a teenager could want to finish their life, and cyberbullying could or will not be a kind of causes. At any price, we have to be alert to the risks that persistent on-line harassment poses to probably the most weak members of society.
10. Social media platforms are accountable
Social media and messaging platforms are sometimes demonized for the position they play as “enablers” of cyberbullying. However more and more they’re being pressured by legislators to higher police their ecosystems. The UK’s On-line Security Act, for instance, is among the most rigorous such legal guidelines on the earth, imposing a “responsibility of care” on sure on-line service suppliers to make sure the wellbeing of their customers. Bullying isn’t at all times simple to identify. Context, nuance, slang and linguistic idiosyncrasies are typically troublesome for algorithms to detect precisely. However they’re getting higher at doing so – as they need to. At any price, it’s important for folks to discuss to their youngsters in regards to the dangers and pitfalls of social media.
Parting thought
No dad or mum desires their baby uncovered to cyberbullying. But when the choice is to cocoon them away with out entry to the digital world, that would do extra hurt than good. The bottom line is to maintain your eyes open for any warning indicators, preserve an open dialogue, and provide your emotional (and technical) help. Devise a plan and work the issue collectively as a group.
