Cyber Bullying - It's Gotta Stop. Now.

[Disco1972]

The recent suicides of kids exposed to thuggish cyber bullying, and the outrageous trolling of their relatives has to end. The problem is that in this country we are pretty poor - in fact we're rubbish - at dealing with these issues. Can I recommend to every mum what I consider to be THE best website in the world for dealing with these issues. It's run by the Australian government and it's for kids from pretty much aged zero right up to 18. Do check it out. Do let your kids go on it asap. It's called Cybersmart and you can find it at: //www.cybersmart.gov.au (or just Google Cybersmart). Click on the age range appropriate when you get onto the site. Do give this a try and any teachers out there please please go onto this site and consider recommending it to the kids at your school to learn about staying safe online and dealing with online abuse.

(I am not a mum or a dad but I am an uncle. I've nothing at all do do with the site, but I can say, due to my work, that this is the best site I have ever come across for adults or kids about dealing proactively with cyber problems).

[mimilovell]

As a parent, it is your job to make sure you speak to your children, channel them to socailise and learn to socailise the old fashion way (face-to-face). You cant take the easy route of letting your children go on social networks to make friends and interact with their friends to get self-esteem, confidence and love. The other person over the internet cant read your childs, mood, reaction, voice, body language to adjust what they say or their tactics of expressing their views. This can only be done in person.

It is your job as a parent to keep in touch with your child, and getting to know their friends, how they are feeling, what they are going through and look out for warning signs. Signing this patition isnt going to do much help unless you do your job as a parent.

Think about it, if someone talks nasty of you on the internet, if your confident and assured with yourself you will laugh at it or just not be bothered at it. For children, its your job to build this part of their personality and help them pick up from set-back so they can be stronger person.