Cyber-Bullying Tips for Parents

  • Ask your child questions, maintain an open dialogue.
  • Keep computer in a common room. Talk about your expectations regarding acceptable online/phone behavior before they receive the privilege. 
  • Behavior online should be the same as what you would do in person or in front of someone you respect.
  • Make agreements and set boundaries about accepted use and behavior for online/phone communication. Often youth don’t tell parents because they fear losing technology privileges.  
  • Help your child think through how the information they put online reflects on them.
  • Inform youth about legal limits and future consequences of harmful posting online or by phone.
  • Ask your child to teach you about programs and technologies you don’t understand or of which you don’t have familiarity.