October is Bullying Prevention Month, an ideal time for both families and schools to work together to raise awareness of and help prevent cyberbullying.
Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can happen anytime, anywhere. Hurtful messages, exclusion, or online harassment follows students anywhere they are online, and can deeply affect their well-being, school performance, and sense of safety. Preventing, identifying and responding to cyberbullying requires teamwork between parents and educators. Together, we can keep kids safe.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when a child or teen uses digital devices—like phones, social media, games, or messaging apps—to hurt, harass, embarrass, or exclude another person on purpose.
It can include things like spreading rumors online, sending mean or threatening messages, sharing private information without consent, or intentionally leaving someone out of group chats or online activities.
Most Students Experience Cyberbullying
Sadly, cyberbullying is very common. In fact, more than half of students say they’ve experienced cyberbullying at some point in their lives, and one-third of students between 13 and 17 years old said they had been cyberbullied within the last 30 days, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center.
The most common kind of cyberbullying the students in the survey said they experienced were:
- Being excluded from group chats
- Having mean or hurtful comments posted about them
- Being humiliated or embarrassed online
- Having rumors spread about them
Impacts of Cyberbullying on K-12 Students
The effects of cyberbullying on students are profound and multifaceted, affecting their emotional, social, and academic well-being.
- Emotional Distress: Victims may experience anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem.
- Social Isolation: Students may withdraw from peers or family, fearing further bullying.
- Chronic Absenteeism: Bullying is a significant driver of chronic absenteeism, as students try to avoid classmates who participate in or observe the bullying behaviors
- Academic Challenges: It can make it harder to focus, leading to poor grades or avoiding school altogether.
- Physical Health Issues: Stress from bullying may cause headaches, fatigue, or changes in sleep and appetite.
In the most serious cases, cyberbullying has been linked to self-harm, underscoring how important it is to take action early.
Help Keep Your Student Safe from Cyberbullying
You can help keep your child safe from cyberbullying by talking to them about digital safety, kindness, and online responsibility. Here are a few tips:
- Keep devices in shared spaces. Placing laptops, tablets, or phones in common areas helps you stay connected to what kids are doing online and makes it easier to step in if something seems off—without hovering over their shoulder.
- Encourage open dialogue. Make it clear they can come to you without fear of punishment. Kids are more likely to share if they know you’ll listen calmly and supportively, rather than immediately take away their device.
- Show them how to block/report harmful users or messages on every platform they use. Walk through the steps together on apps or games they use most. Knowing how to take action gives them confidence and shows that they don’t have to accept or stay silent about mean or unsafe behavior.
- Remind them: never share passwords, even with friends. Explain that passwords are like house keys—you wouldn’t give someone else your front-door key, and the same rule applies online.
- Watch for warning signs. Mood changes, avoiding friends, or hiding screens quickly can all be subtle red flags. A gentle check-in can open the door to a conversation if something is bothering them.
- Use parental controls. Think of these tools as training wheels—they provide extra support while children learn safe online habits. As kids grow, you can gradually adjust settings to give them more independence.
Prevent Your Child from Becoming a Cyberbully
On the flip side, you can also play an important role in preventing students from engaging in online behavior that bullies others. Every parent wants to think the best of their child, but about a quarter of students in the Cyberbullying Research Center survey admitted to having cyberbullied others at some point. Here are a few tips you can use:
- Talk about empathy. Help them understand how their words impact others online. Remind kids that there’s always a real person on the other side of the screen. Conversations about kindness and respect can go a long way in shaping how they act online.
- Set clear expectations and consequences. Make sure your child knows how you expect them to treat others digitally, and provide fair consequences if rules are broken.
- Monitor tone and content. Glance at your child’s texts, comments, or posts now and then to ensure their communication reflects your family’s values.
- Correct small problems early. Even light teasing or “just kidding” comments can sting online. Talk about these moments right away.
- Encourage kindness and accountability. Being anonymous doesn’t erase responsibility. Encourage kids to use their digital presence to uplift, support, and include others.
Download the Cyberbullying Prevention Packet
To support both parents and educators this October, we’ve created a Cyberbullying Prevention Parent Checklist packed with conversation starters, safety tips, and resources you both can use. Together, we can build safer, more supportive online spaces!