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Mumsnet users talk online safety and cyberbullying with Kaspersky

253 replies

JustineBMumsnet · 04/09/2018 14:26

NOW CLOSED

Many children are now growing up with technology at their fingertips and social media often at the centre of their digital world, making it more important than ever to discuss online safety with children and be aware of the effects of cyberbullying. Kaspersky would like to hear about the ways you protect your children from bullying when they’re online.

Here’s what Kaspersky has to say: “Do you really know what your kids do online? Can you be sure they’re safe when connected? Kaspersky gives you new and better ways to keep your kids safe on PC, Mac and Mobile."

Do you have tips for talking about cyberbullying with your children? Do you utilise parental control technology so you know what’s going on in their digital world? If your child has experienced cyberbullying, what advice do you have for other parents?

Whatever your tips or experience, share this below to be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Mumsnet users talk online safety and cyberbullying with Kaspersky
OP posts:
greensmith68 · 25/09/2018 19:17

my son suffered cyber bullying so much so we had to get the police involved it was that bad he wouldn't leave the house even thou he blocked them they would get others to message him it all started when one of his friends was round our house and started calling our polish neighbours so i spoke to his mum who was the head of the local school after that he got badly beat up by the lad and his cusions (because his mum was upset that we'd told her we didn't want her son at our if he was going to be racsit) even the school failed to protect him and we ended up moving and pressing chargers against them

cathryn1 · 25/09/2018 22:46

MY only thing is to talk to my daughter, and let her know it is ok to talk to me about any situation. The internet is a big part of childrens life in todays life and its hard to know how to help

baconbap · 25/09/2018 23:05

make sure they know how to only share stuff with people they want to

phillw · 25/09/2018 23:45

Ensure parental controls are enabled on your Broadband provider as well as having full exposure to your childrens social media accounts.

Namethecat · 26/09/2018 18:12

My children know they are not allowed to delete any websites they have looked at and that I will regularly check at what they are doing. Going online at aged under 16:is always only allowed whilst an adult is in the room

daisyduke66 · 26/09/2018 23:11

Apart from the obvious parental controls with any technology - being completely open with conversation is vital, a two way process where absolutely anything and everything can be openly discussed.

Hopezibah · 27/09/2018 22:20

We have some controls set up to prevent accessing certain types of website, but the rest comes down to open discussion with our kids - trying to make it age appropriate for each of them.

Also discussing scenarios to help them think about what is right or wrong and what they would do if faced with certain situations.

PiperPublickOccurrences · 30/09/2018 09:19

My kids are secondary school age and have smartphones and access to computers and so on. We know the passwords for their devices and the kids know that mum and dad reserve the right to look whenever we want. They have had classes about safe internet use and cyberbullying at school, and will come to us if they get messages they;re not comfortable with.

UpOnDown · 01/10/2018 15:05

I have all my kids' passwords for email/fb etc, and check on them.

maclinks · 01/10/2018 21:19

I kept my children off social media until they where in secondary school, they are lectures at school on it and are quite savvy about cyberbullying, yes there have been minor incidents, but they know how to block and ignore "the haters". It is actually in some ways better because they can screen shot the proof and use it as defence. Whereas in my childhood I went to teacher and told them I was been bullied , they didn't believe me and nothing happened, in fact they made the b a prefect on my school bus so she laid in all the more. 30 min journey each way ...hell..

fishnships · 02/10/2018 20:48

My kids are tech savvy and aware of the possibility of cyber bullying. One of them has a friend who experienced it and DD was able to bring it to the attention of a teacher and encourage her friend to get help, which she did.

Lulabellx1 · 03/10/2018 14:13

We've talked about cyber bullying lots from a young age. Both DS and DD have a tablet, but I will only allow YouTube Kids for example and age appropriate app's. I must admit, we have not yet entered the world of mobile phoned yet, that will be another mine field to navigate I'm sure!

QwertySmalls · 03/10/2018 15:07

They are only allowed to use the computer in the sitting room under my presence. I have also discussed stranger danger and so have the school.

Elliejojo · 04/10/2018 09:59

My eldest is 7 so she doesn’t have social media yet so the bullying aspect doesn’t apply to us for now. ( although I know I will worry when the time comes)
My plan is to hold off giving personal devices as long as possible, and we have already set up parental controls on our devices for the odd moment that they get used.
We try and be very open about things and approachable so they can talk to us.

AngelDog · 05/10/2018 18:38

No experience of cyberbullying yet, as my children aren't old or independent enough to be interacting with others online (or in real life without at least some adult supervision).

My children only use the computer in our kitchen, where I can always see what they're doing. They only use it for certain purposes eg educational things we do together (we home ed), looking up football scores and watching videos of French & German songs on YouTube.

I like to use Quietube to reduce unwanted content from YouTube.

katiewalters · 05/10/2018 22:12

I talk to my children about cyber bulling, and they also have talks at school. I have parental controls on their ipads and monitor what they are watching. My son has a PlayStation, but we dont let him have it in his room, as he plays online. So he only plays it when one of his parents is in the front room, so we can see and hear the conversations. We tell them never to tell anyone online where they live etc. They are too young for social media yet, and mobiles as they are 5 and 9. But we talk to them about cyber bullying and what it is

Carriecakes80 · 05/10/2018 22:39

Our family computer is in the front room, our four children share a laptop too which is only used upstairs if my 19 yr old is using it. I do trust that my kids are savvy, but don't want to take the risk of them seeing something they shouldn't or being a victim of online trolling or bullying at this young age.

We have 'child-locks' on the adult sites and keep a close eye, but we regularly talk to our kids about not giving out personal info or being too friendly with people on Roblox, as you never quite know who it might be. x

nerysw · 06/10/2018 07:55

Thankfully I haven't had to deal with this yet but I'm amazed at how many of my 9 year daughters classmates have their own youtube accounts.

StickChildNumberTwo · 06/10/2018 17:12

My kids aren't old enough to be interacting with people online yet (beyond sending gifts to friends in Sum Dog) but I'm aware we'll need to keep the conversation about it all open as they get older. My concern is that I will have no clue about the social media they will choose to use, so I guess we'll have to make sure they have a good grounding in the general principles of staying safe and make sure we try and keep up with what they're up to.

1969angep · 07/10/2018 16:21

We’re not at the age of cyber bullying or social media accounts yet. I shall insist on being friends with my DS on each and every social account he has!

Lulabellx1 · 10/10/2018 13:37

My DS and DD hear a lot about cyber bullying at school. I also talk to them about it at home. They are much more knowledgeable than I was when the internet became a 'thing'!

My eldest is 11 and not yet on social media, I am sure this will raise my level of concern when he does.

Angiemum23 · 13/10/2018 17:49

We speak regularly about cyber bulling and staying safe online. If they have ever been worried they tell us right away.

Quietvoiceplease · 13/10/2018 18:09

I think the best prevention is open communication: about never saying anything online that you wouldn't say to someone's face. Also to have boundaries on when they can use screens and know that we can access their phones. We also use parental controls on their phone to limit the age limit of material that they can see.

joggingrunning · 13/10/2018 20:49

On your operating system you can create an account that can be tailored to a child/children to limit the time spent and control what apps they use and what websites they visit. Also teach your children about being safe on the internet and to never divulge personal informatio on the internet.

GetKnitted · 14/10/2018 22:24

DS1 (10 yo) is sometimes quite out on a limb as far as his (very good) behaviour goes, he is sometimes anxious, and has been the butt of playground bullying at school (thankfully he seems to be fully emerging from the effects of this now).... I am terrified of what cyber bullying could do for him...

reading the comments with interest, no experience to give