Signs Your Child May Be a Victim of Cyberbullying:
- Avoids or engages excessively in using the computer, cell phone, and other technological devices
- Appears stressed when receiving an e-mail, instant message, or text
- Withdraws from family and friends or acts reluctant to attend school and social events
- Avoids conversations about the use of electronics
- Exhibits signs of low self-esteem including depression or fear
- Declining grades
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
In order to combat cyberbullying, it’s important that you communicate with your child about ways to prevent it from reoccurring.
- If you see someone being bullied online, report it to a school authority immediately – refrain from liking or sharing it
- Avoid posting too much information about yourself or others online
- Don’t communicate with people who you don’t know
Use these discussion starters to get an Internet safety conversation going with your children.
Ask children:
- Ever been upset with someone online? How did you deal with it?
- Has someone ever sent you a mean message online? How did it make you feel?
- If you knew someone was being cyberbullied, what would you do?
- Do you know where to report cyberbullying on the websites and apps you use? Who would you talk to at school?
Book Recommendations:
- Asay, Paul (2024). Becoming a Screen Savvy Family: How to Navigate a Media-Saturated World-And Why We Should. Focus on the Family, Tyndale Publishers: Carol Stream, IL.
- Cranford, Clay. (2025). Parenting in a Digital World. (4th Edition)
- Frederick, Stephanie et al. (2025). Cyberbullying: Helping Children Navigate Digital Technology and Social Media. Wiley and Sons: New Jersey.
- Haidt, Jonathan (2024). The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penguin Press: NY.
- Hinduja, Sameer, and Patchin, Justin W. (2024). Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying. Corwin, A Sage Company: Thousand Oaks, CA.
- Leclair, Marc (2024). Texting and Online Chatting: The Language of Today. Coppell, TX.
- Wiersbe, Warren W. (2017). Stand. 10 Publishing: England, UK.
- Wyatt, Heather. (2025). The Aubreigh Wyatt Story: A mother’s fight for justice, love, and lasting change. Publishing: Self-published.
Additional Resources: