Cyberbullying has been a hot topic for years, but when all of us, young and old, were thrust in front of our screens due to COVID-19, the experts warned we could see an uptick in this behavior – especially among young people.
Sure enough, we are six months into the coronavirus pandemic and Google Trends is seeing an 80% increase in parents searching for help in dealing with cyberbullying. According to a Digital Trends piece that came out in April about cyberbullying and distance learning, research indicated that they had seen a 70% increase in cyberbullying among kids in the first weeks of social distancing. Statistics indicate that roughly 50%-60% of kids have been cyberbullied.
Just so we are clear about what we are talking about, cyberbullying is using any type of digital platform to scare, harass, shame, embarrass, hurt or threaten another person.
Numbers to know
› Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Hotline: 800-662-HELP (4357)› National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
With everyone online right now, there are lots of easy targets and the stakes are high. Some kids are taking their own lives because of it, and many others are dealing with anxiety and depression as a result. If you know what to look for and have some precautions in place, you have a much better chance of intervening before the situation takes a tragic turn. The big question is, what can parents do to address this problem?