Mumsnet users talk online safety and cyberbullying with Kaspersky

[JustineBMumsnet]

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

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I have always been very very open and honest and told them to tell me of anything upsettting - we also have parental controls x

Exercise parental controls on all devises connected to the internet and don’t let the children use the computer without supervision by an adult.

We have both spoken to our son about cyber bullying but I think it is important to continually stress the dangers of this.
We have put parental controls on our technology but I still think it is important to remain vigilant. Having a good relationship with your children and their friends I feel is of benefit. I didn’t have this with my parents and was bullied at school and I can still relate to the feelings I had walking to school and dreading the lessons ahead.

We use parental controls

I have always told my child he can tell me anything, I will admit I have no idea how to keep him safe online but he's young, I only let him on my laptop to play cbbc or pop games, and I'm with him. As he gets older its a worry, keeping communication and being honest about things will help, monitoring his activity and obviously parental controls. Can't keep up with technology so would have to research more.

My daughter is always on social media now she is 14. She is not allowed to accept friends without permission and knows not to reply to anyone in games who is not one of her friends. If anything is said that she does not think is right she knows to come and show me and speak to me about it. I think they need to know that they can tell you anything without fear of being in trouble.

I had a timer on the router when my two were younger to make sure they went to bed, they did not experience any cyberbullying.

it comes hand in hand when talking about internet safety

parental controls and regularly asking who they are talking with and what they are doing!

Parental controls a must - also see if the school are providing advice to the pupils. We always have several hours with everything switched off. When its fit weather we go for long walks and study nature and do loads of sports

i have told them about online security and school teaches too

He must let me know when it happens and I'll deal with it

No tech in the bedrooms, and encourage them to talk to an adult if they see anything that worries/scares them

sadly technology has moved so fast that we are all in danger of being caught out by security for our kids on the net.
first the schools need a dedicated safety and security lessonand so do parents.

My daughter doesn't use social media and only uses a moderated chat program to chat to 3 of her close friends. She hasn't experienced cyber bullying but i've told her to let me know if she does and i'll tackle that problem straight away. I'm not standing for any bullying so if anyone bullies my daughter, i'll be straight onto the school and the parents of the person doing the bullying.

We discuss safety online and I try to keep up to date on advice for parents from leading organisations that provide support/advice like Childnet

I hate bullying. It happened to me when i was young. The thought cyber bullying - at any time of day or night sounds like a complete nightmare!! I have always kept talking to our son about bullying, making him aware of how it can escilate. My heart goes out to any kids who are cyber bullied. I think the answer is to always make sure your child can talk to you, always has opportunites where there is time to talk and get to the school to report to them with evidence of any cyber bullying. I think if it did happen to our son I would be tempted to ask him to take himself off any groups/social media its coming though - I know in a way that meant he would be missing out on some things but its far better than being tormented. However, at home we have a rule that at any time we can walk into his room and see what he is doing - its always been like that, at a younger age he was only allowed online when in the living room with us, as he got older we let him go online in his own room as we felt we could trust him more and believed him to be aware of the dangers and of how other kids can be manipulative and cruel.

You only have to look at some other mumsnet threads to see how these bullies never grow up - twisting words, insulting and trolling other users.. unfortunately that is the real world, not everyone has the capability of being respectful to others, and helping your children understand how these people exist helps them in avoiding them to some extent.

I think some cyber bullying is easy to spot and deal with but the more covert stuff is the problem. What is cyber bully needs to be the first discussion, some off it just seems like taking the mick which my teenagers thought was ok.

It is hard to teach them that no, it is not ok to allow people to belittle you or anyone else.
Computer security is great as is parental controls but what is acceptable within peer groups needs lots more work.

Ive always been open with my children about internet safety and cyber bullying. Ive always told them to come to me if they aren't happy with anything they have seen online and it seems to be working

Like most parents I have had a chat about all kinds of bullying but I am not sure whether what I have to say really reaches them and whether they take heed. Children often nod and appear engaged and to say the right things but peer pressure can usurp parental influence. I try to keep on top of what they are doing and highlight any media coverage of bullying. I have also spoken about it when friends come for tea but to be honest I feel a bit out of my depth.

I have parental controls and regular conversations about this subject. Best to be open and honest as this can be very serious and damaging to people.

we are a very close, open family and my daughter is aware if anything maes her feel uncomfortable she is to tell me, she is very aware of cyber bullying as far as i know she hasnt had any problems, but i do try to make sure she is not on her phone or on social media too much and i try to monitor her usage

My great niece is too young for the internet yet but there is a great, helpful link on the NSPCC website here www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/bullying-and-cyberbullying/keeping-children-safe/ which will come in very useful if anything like that ever occurs when she gets a little older

I teach my kids to not say something to someone else, that they would not want someone else to say to them. That said, if someone does say something nasty to them I remind them that it is just a mechanism for that other person to make you feel as bad as they feel - so don't let it get to you.

With older daughter we've always said is she feels uncomfortable in anyway she can talk to us, nothing will be off limits and no blame attached... We think it's vital to always be there to discuss things and to have no secrets/worries that can be sorted!