Mumsnet users talk online safety and cyberbullying with Kaspersky

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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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Only allow them to access the internet when a parent is in the room with them. Restrict internet use to 1 hour each evening.

My eldest wants a smart phone and i havrnt a clue how to keep her safe and monitor it. Will read up in hope of some tips!

I find it more beneficial to have lots of little chats, rather than a long monologue which would be boring for my son & seem like a lecture.
We discuss things we see on the TV, which will include this subject & we hear each others views on subjects.
I ensure that he has a healthy safe esteem & that he knows he can approach me about anything at all

We do have parental controls on the internet yes, but it's so hard to stay on top of. I've been quite open with them with my experiences of bullying, and I'm hopeful that they would come to me if there is something wrong. It's quite scary how easy bullying is these days with the amount of social media sites.

No devices at the dinner table. That's when we chat about our day and we discuss where we've been and what we've seen. We also encourage our kids to look at websites ans apps that have good advice like The NSPCC.

My oldest daughter joined a school where there was an incident of bullying and cyberbullying very sadly the victim throw herself under a train. The then head handled in very badly, the case was widely publicised. The mother of victim set up a campaign. My daughter and her friends leaned about the consequences of cyber bullying as a result of this sad case. My daughter now wants to work with young people with mental illness due to this incident and she is only 11 she is very aware of the dangers.
For my other kids
I have set strict guidelines internet use
Always listen to you children’s concerns no matter how small or petty they may seem
talk openly and honestly show an interest in what they are doing
the Set ISP’s parental controls according -
I have over all over control of all account and what’s apps I have access to all past words. This of course is only appropriate for younger kids .
The best tip is make them aware of the opportunities but also make them aware of the dangers and make them realise they have a right to be who they are and bullies cant not impact on them unless they let them. Teach them how to block.

My niece and nephew are always on their phones or computers so I always told them that if ever somebody online makes them feel bad or bullies them they should tell me. I also told them that words and threats can't hurt them so I was really proud when somebody tried to cyberbully my niece and she fought back and nipped it in the bud. It was somebody from school and I thought I was going to have to intervene but she handled it brilliantly herself!

My daughter is a teenager so we watched the one off 'Cyberbully' together. It was really hard-hitting and made a huge impact. She knows the easiest thing to do is to literally switch off social media.

I have spoken to my kids about cyber bulling. They know to tell me if they feel uncomfortable. I know which sites they go on and have their loggin information. I also have parental locks on the computer.

I've always taught mine that if you wouldn't say it to someone's face don't write it online in any form. Also I encourage them to not be too involved with social media.

I keep an ongoing dialogue about this, and the need for appropriate boundaries and also breaks away from the relentlessness of social media.

I thinks it important, however, not to make new technologies and communication outlets scary or something to fear.

We have asked our children to tell us if anyone approaches them online.
Our eldest has recently got a mobile phone and we have asked him to be very careful with how he gives his number too, and too only use it for phone calls in emergencies.
I have to admit that this is something we worry about it, as our children get older and more interested in social media.

I think its very important to keep the computer in an area where the child cannot shut themselves away. Have an open and honest conversation with your child about the awful types of people they can come across and let them know it's okay to talk to you about it.
Have parental controls and restrictions on the types of sites they can visit.

My children are adult now and could teach me a thing or two about this.

I know parents who have been really shocked when they've been shown what their kids have been doing online. The adults need more awareness and to really believe that any child might be a bully or a victim online.

Ooo, watching this with interest as my daughter is getting increasingly interested in "Google" as she says, so it won't be long until we will need to address this subject!

Don't let them have access to a computer or smartphone

In respect to this subject it can be worrying for children and the parents ,but to a certain extent children need their freedom online but with an occasional glancing eye from their parents

At the moment my little guy is too young for that but it’s definitelt a worry !
I would probably go to the school , and I’d almost have have an urge to ban my son from social media. It seems like a punishment for him though for others behaviour but I’m sure his mental state would be much better until he’s older and most children will mature.

It is something that we discuss along with personal safety and "stranger danger" (or often not so stranger danger!). They know that they can come and talk to us about anything, so for us it is about keeping lines of communication open and knowing that they have our support.

As a parent that is super-involved with everything my child gets up to online, i have witnessed cyberbullying towards her and from children towards other children.

I would advise parents to have access to their messages.

For example, if your child is using instagram, you can add the account on to yours, so you will see all the messages that come through.
Also, on the iphone, you can connect it so the messages come through on yours yet again.

Depending on the age of the child obviously, it gets more harder as they get older and as my child is 13, we have developed a trust with each other and I am slowly backing off for her to confide in me and have her own independence online.

I think if you see anything you don't like and you don't overreact to it, it will build up a great trust with your child and they will realise that you are just protecting them, rather than policing them.

talk to them. chat about what they are doing on the internet but as part of a conversation not an interrogation.

We've talked from a young age about the pitfalls of the online world, and how to use social networking wisely. parental controls are useful, but not enough on their own. Open communication from a young age, and keeing a close eye on their online activity is a must. I found this whiteboard animation a useful teaching tool
www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/teenagers/whiteboard-animations/social-network-smart/

Get information about how to chat to the age of your children properly online. There is loads of tips and tricks without scaring them off!

My boys are still young (3 and 5) but I make sure that they have kids mode on their tablets. I control what apps they use and make sure they only use their tablets when me or their dad is around them.
I work in telecoms and know how to safety net as best I can but I have talked to my eldest about bullying and cyber bullying. I haveexplained to him that people say alot of things they wouldnt say normally when people cant see them and that it can be very unkind. He has always known he can talk to use about any worries and when the time comes that hes on apps that have forums or can have comments, I will make sure that he is happy to tell us or report it to the site. As soon as someone shares a worry about a cyber bullier that bully is exposed and cant hide behind their saftey blanket of the internet and I will make sure my kids know not to accept it