This 16 year old girl committed suicide as did this 13 year old boy. There are so many young people today that have done the same and because of bullying. However, the bullying they experienced was different from what you or I would have experienced at this age,

Bullying has often been seen as a typical part of a child’s life. So many times children are told to turn the other check, or ignore bullies enough and they’ll go away....sad thing is, this isn’t the case and it never has been. Bullying of any kind needs to be taken seriously and more so with today’s technology. Cyber-bullying is on the increase and it is becoming a bigger issue than what was first expected.

I could sit here and list the many ways in which cyberbullying has impacted different lives. The methods bullies have resorted to using so as to attack their victims, however, I refuse to add to or create a guide on how to bully someone in an attempt to get a message out there.

Mobile phones and their cameras, websites, YouTube, MSN, Email – all of these things, places and technology have been used to harass and degrade others in some form or another, used to pick on children – and adults for that matter, and in a way that is so publicly humiliating, that children have reverted to suicide.

As parents we can try and understand why kids are doing this to each other – but more often than not it is something which is ‘motivated by anger, revenge or frustration... boredom’ (Stop Cyberbullying website), it has even been linked, believe it or not, to entertainment value.

Whatever the motive is we as parents, caregivers, grandparents and families need to take a strong stand against it. We need to teach our children that it is unacceptable, under any circumstances, to remain silent when there are other people being hurt. We need to get the message out that “Silence is NOT golden"

Websites such as Reach Out offer a Factsheet on cyberbullying which can also be downloaded in PDF form and that provides links on where to go for help as well as offering advice for parents if their child is experiencing this type of bullying.

1. Some advice that is outlined includes the following:
2. Keep a diary with date and times the harassment has occurred 
3. Don’t keep it to yourself; tell someone you
4. Inform the Internet service provider you, or the person being bullied, is using explain what is happening. They can help to a certain extent.
5. Contact the police if the messages are threatening in any way
6. Do not reply to any of the messages: - teach children how to ‘Take 5’ from the phone, mouse or computer so they don’t respond in anger and so they can try and have time to calm down. This also helps in preventing them from inevitably becoming a cyberbully themselves.

Cyberbullying is on the increase and it is important that we as parents and families keep updated and informed on what is going on and how to help prevent it from happening to our loved ones. The internet is a great place; however, there are those that do abuse it and those who are abused by it.

A really good site that you might like to check out is here. It is an interactive website which  takes you through to an office where you can find out links, information and articles on cyberbullying for parents and even teachers. Its worth having a look and may be worth showing your child.