Moksh Juneja,
According to a new study, seven out of 10 kids are victims of cyber bullying. Speak Up asks parents if they monitor kids's online activities
Install software to track child's internet details
On the internet, the best form of moderation is self-censorship. If one wants to access any banned site on the internet, he can always use proxy servers.
Form a children's perspective, they are logging on to sites which they have been exposed via of other forms of media like TV, radio, and of course, through friends. Three situations that arise in cyber bullying: one, if anyone is threatening them or having a conversation in an uncouth language; second, if the child gets a threat from a stranger he/ she has befriended online and hence cannot report to parents; and third, if the child is speaking to someone known through family or other connections, and the person is speaking in a foul language, The child must immediately tell his or her parents.
From the parents' perspective, rather than actually watching their children over their shoulder, they can install software that can keep track of history of the children as to where they have visited. Parents should also notice any change in behaviour pattern o their children, if he or she is getting irritated or normally spending too much time surfing the internet or hiding some facts from them. It can be an indication of cyber bullying.
My friend's contact details and photos were leaked
A few years back, I and my friends joined a well-known social networking site to appear cool and happening. Like any other teenager, I and my friends would enthusiastically click pictures and then post them online. Everything was hunky-dory when suddenly one fine day one of my closest friends was in a soup that she thought she'll ever get out of. A common school friend came across my friend's picture on 'an instant friendship' website along with her contact details. He called my friend instantly to ask if she had applied for one. I was with her at that moment and we were stunned. We were clueless and didn't know what to do next. My friend was scared to tell her parents as she thought they would react in a stern manner. We had read about such cases but never thought it could actually happen to us. Then it dawned on us that we need to be particular about privacy settings on social networking sites. we approached my elder brother who helped us in getting rid of my friend's fake profile. From that day, all of us have become doubly wary of what we post online and add only people we know as friends.
-Devanshi Sen
Keep a tab on your child's mood and behaviour
Today internet, and hence information has become very accessible to children. But they don't know what the consequences can be while using the internet. Children also are not aware when they become victims of bullying and sarcasm on the net. It is very difficult for any parent to monitor all the time when their child goes online. So it is better to educate them on the use of internet and what to avoid. They should also be told why it is advisable not to get carried away while using internet: Teach the child about self-management while using online stuff. Parents should also be vigilant regarding how long their child is surfing on the net and also look if their child isn't getting obsessed with the online world. Apart from this, the parent should keep an eye on the behaviour and mood of the child. This way, parents too can counsel them after communicating with them. We know that everything with them. We know that everything online is not meant for children but making stringent laws alone will not serve the purpose. Not only children, even adults get carried away with the internet, so its basically about one's own understanding of right and wrong.
-Varkha Chulani,
clinical psychologist and psychotherapist
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