What You Need to Know About Cyber Bullying and other Cyber Crimes

In this ever-developing digital age, more and more avenues are opening up for people to communicate and, at the same time, be subjected to a whole plethora of crimes and forms of abuse. Children, especially, are vulnerable to inappropriate online content and malicious users.

Cyber bullying, in particular, is a crime that has cropped up in the modern world. Not many people know it, but aside from cyber bullying, cyber harassment and cyber stalking also abound online. What exactly are all these, and when do you know if your child is already being victimized by any of them?

An article from websafetyforparents.org illustrates their definitions:

• Cyber bullying is committed by a minor to another minor.

• Cyber harassment and Cyber stalking is committed by an adult to a minor, or to another adult.

• Cyber harassment is purely an online activity while cyber stalking can lead to physical activity, harassment and other non cyber-related crimes.”

 

Sonnie Santos, founder of websafetyforparents.org and an advocate of cyber wellness for parents and the youth, hopes to create awareness on these cybercrimes throughout the Philippines. Thus, earlier this year, he forged a partnership with Yahoo! Philippines to effectively spread the message.

A longtime advocate on child safety, Yahoo! has made it a priority to protect children online by creating tools as safeguards, and by supporting efforts to educate children, parents, adults, and communities about safer online experiences. 

Now a columnist at Yahoo!’s Safety Net and also the Expert Advisor for Yahoo! Safely, Santos answers our burning questions regarding kids’ safety online: 

 

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Why is the advocacy on online safety close to your heart?

In the past, when children were at home, parents felt confident about their safety. However, now, even if they’re home, when they go on the Internet and surf – it’s not always a safe experience. Stories about cyber bullying are becoming common. The Internet is a perfect environment that allows a bully to do the things they can’t do face-to-face. In addition, mobile is changing the way children access information today. Children use the mobile for SMS-ing, downloading online games, videos and music without being fully aware of the nature of the content. Beyond that, the Internet is an open ground for stalkers, and location-based social networking is a real concern and a potential threat that cannot be neglected.

 

What is the best way to discover your child’s behavior online?

To know where our children are going online and what they are doing, Yahoo! Safely advises parents to abandon the digital divide, embrace their world and enjoy the possibilities together. Good parenting means that adults know what sites their children visit or the songs they download, and find ways to become a part of their activities. This is particularly important as young people don't differentiate between their online and offline worlds, and the skills they learn to keep themselves safe at home, school or in their community directly crossover to the virtual world. Remember, it is not hard to learn how to text, set up a Facebook page, download and send photos or updates using a mobile phone or even upload video on YouTube. It's important for parents to skill themselves up on technology use so they can realistically assess what young people are doing online and offer good guidance. 

 

How do we inculcate values to their virtual self?

Values also extend to kids’ behavior online, and parents play an important role in guiding their children. Remind your children that anyone, such as potential employers or college admissions persons, can easily surf the sites and see what is on their pages. Let your children know that once they post something on their pages, it can easily be taken out of context, cut, altered, pasted and sent around without their consent. While it is true that we can delete a post or an image, the system has the capability to back-up files so it is never really erased. The only way to avoid such a scenario is to not post it in the first place. Stop and think before you post as what you do today can be abused by someone in the future. 

 

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When do we say that cyber bullying is committed?

[Cyber bullying is committed] if one uses social [media sites on the] Web or [his] mobile phone [via SMS] to strip another person of respect, confidence and dignity and does so in anonymity.

What are the effects of cyber bullying on children?From the most simple, like embarrassment, loss of self respect and dignity, to more serious ones which can lead to teen suicide.”

Please tell us the state/incidence of cyber bullying in the Philippines.No reports or studies have data confirming the incidences of cyber bullying in the Philippines, but I believes the situation may possibly escalate, if no measures are actively taken.

 

What can parents do if their kids become victims of cyber bullying?

• Contact the service provider of the platform being used by the bully, (i.e. Facebook) to take down the site being used to harass the child.

• Change the mobile phone number of the child

• Collaborate with the school [to enlighten kids on the dangers of cyber bullying and what to do when they experience cyber bullying attacks].

• Do not let the child use the web to chat and visit social networking sites for the time being.• Shut down all the accounts of the kid (i.e. chat, email).

• If necessary, seek the help of local authorities or the police.

• As parents, reassure your child with your presence. Listen and comfort him during this period.
What else can parents do?Phone and online activities are real time eaters. Parents can set boundaries on the amount of time spent on the Internet or set up “no Internet evenings” where family members can talk about an interesting site or article they have read online. 

 

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Is there anything being done in the Philippines to help combat cyber bullying? 

Senator Miriam Santiago filed an anti cyber bullying bill, and the Project Angel Net of the PNP is a good start. Yahoo Safely and Web Safety PH is doing its part on the education campaign.

Recently, Yahoo! launched the Purple Hunt 3.0 Family Edition which aims to bring the whole family together to explore the Web, discover the various Yahoo! properties and spend quality time bonding. Guided by three values: Pledge together; Surf together; Play together, the treasure hunt is a fun experience that promotes responsible use of the Internet by educating parents and their children about online safety and netiquette, while standing a chance to win exciting prizes.

As with any other activity, parents should observe and model the value of moderation. Learn how to set limits and enforce rules while still allowing your child to experience the wonders of the Internet. 

 

You may also want to read:

Kid-safe Internet Use