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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I actually met with a cyber bullying specialist firm as part of my work. They said screen shot and log everything, block the account, and never respond as that adds fuel to the fire

It's really hard with all the social media children are faced with. I think just keep reinforcing the dangers especially that bullying can be done over social media and trying to explain why it does occur. Always teaching them from a young age to put down ipad or mobile as well if something appears they are uncomfortable with.

Keep an eye on them and don't be afraid to ask questions. Changes in behaviour is a tell-tale sign.

this is such a huge topic and im so glad this thread exists as ill be reading all comments for advice and tips.
we have parental controls on devices at home and this extends as far as not allowing the children to send messages etc or communicate with anyone using these devices-- one dc is a teen and rest are young- however there will be a time when they will want to access social media and i hope i have given them enough knowledge so they know how to conduct themselves in the online world,

i've spoken to my son about bullying in general and the same would apply to cyber bullying. If anything is upsetting my lil boy ive told him to tell me. my son is too small for social media at the moment. But when older i would be checking his accounts regularly to make sure nothing bad is going on x

My daughter is only young but I hope when she's old enough she will understand how to stay safe online, I think parental controls could help somewhat but ultimately I think it will come down to trust and her allowing me to check what she's doing and seeing online.

Awareness is key and a story about it would be a good way.

We talk alot at home generally about cyber bullying and Internet safety and I know that school covers it alot too.

To my horror I've just today discovered a classmate of my DS10 is being unkind. When they play group x box games this other boy kicks DS out the group every time. I'd had a suspicion as listened in but DS swore blind it was a misunderstanding. Turns out this boy is being mean at school too. Luckily DS has some good friends who told their parents who told me. Despite knowing who all his x box friends were, this was from a boy who I knew to be in his class and understood to be a friend. None of our checks showed us that this boy kicks him out of all group games every time, then bugs him and insults him at school!
Went back into school tonight and met with Head who took it seriously and will be speaking to the friends who can corroborate all this. I am pleased I know but horrified my DS didn't tell me himself. I honestly believed he'd tell me anything but he was so embarrassed to be bullied.
The boy will be unfriended and blocked and I'm confident the school will sort it.

I'm just starting to look into this and the best approach I need to take to keep her safe and able to come to me with any worries. Its terrifying.

My daughter is still young (KS2) so we don't allow her to access any social media or access any online games that have any form of chat feature. Any other online games, we check first and do not allow her to play them unattended. In regards to youtube, she is only allowed to watch videos and vloggers that we have approved and only when we are within the room.

We have had discussions around why we are strict with technology and IT Security on a regular basis with her, letting her ask questions.

In regards to device security, I manage them through ensuring that all security updates are run on each device, that the antivirus has up-to-date definitions and by running virus scans on a regular basis. (Just to name a few things)

My kids are tech savvy and their school is proactive as far as potential cyberbullying is concerned, so I am not too worried about this, but I do know of one instance where a friend of my DD was cyberbullied, and I was proud that she and her friendship group took steps to alert a teacher. They also advised her to tell a parent and as a result the matter was dealt with early on, so was not too serious.

My sons don’t really use computers or social media and it’s something I have been thinking about for the future. I’ll probably have a lock on their phones when they have them so they can’t download anything without my permission. I’ll teach them that it’s just as important to be kind online as it is when they are face to face with people. I think it’s important children and afraid to tell anyone when someone is bullying. Whether it’s someone bullying them or someone else

ALWAYS been in good communication with your kids, know whats going on etc

Get them off social media.

I did use parental controls until the kids hit a certain age and then I decided that we had to trust them - with instructions and boundaries and the reminder that should they break our trust then it would be really hard to gain it back and therefore get their privileges back. Luckily it worked for us - plus we have always been open and honest and discussed the do's and don't off the net.

I think knowledge is power so I make sure I know how everything my child may use works and have accounts on them. we have an open dialogue about social media.

I approach it the same as with all bullying, anything that makes my children uncomfortable or upset they know to talk about it. keep communication open

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I have always talked to my daughter about safety on the internet and cyber bullying. I think the most important thing is your child trusting that they can't talk to you. I also check her Facebook and phone randomly just in case. When she was younger she had to use the internet in the living room. Xx

SPEAK TO THEM MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY CAN COME TO YOU ABOUT ANYTHING

We talk about it quite often, parental controls are great and my DD doesn't have FB yet, I do worry mostly about fb when she is older though.

I talk to DS about how you can never trust people you don't know in RL. They might be someone else than they say they are. And they might want something bad from you. DS has no social media accounts and I disable chat/messaging options on his online games. I make sure that DS knows he can ask and tell me anything, which should also make the risk of cyber bullying smaller. However I do worry about what happens when he goes to secondary school and beyond, because he has high functioning ASD and could end up being bullied in RL and/or online. I delay giving him his own phone until he is in secondary, despite many of his friends already having them.

Z

My DDs are aged 6 & 8 so they only have supervised time online, and I don't allow them to use social media (even though my 8 year old is desperate to!) However it is never too early to educate children and I have spoken to both of them about the possible dangers of going online including that sometimes people may not be who they say they are. I am very careful about how I use social media and I hope that sets a good example for my girls.