How to Tell if Your Child Is Being Bullied
Cyberbullying refers to online harassment, threats and intimidation, often targeting teenagers and school-aged children. According to UNICEF, one in five children reported skipping school due to experiences with violence and cyberbullying. This startling statistic underscores the serious impact of bullying on education and wellbeing.
In this article, we will elucidate how to tell if your child is being bullied.
Signs That Your Child May Be Dealing With a Cyberbully
So, what are signs of cyberbullying? Here are some telltale indicators that your little ones might be a victim of cyberbullying:
- Anxiety and depression issues – Do they appear jumpy, nervous or stressed after scrolling through social media? If yes, perhaps someone is harassing them online.
- Becoming secretive and withdrawn – Your child could suddenly start isolating themselves and hiding their online activities, pointing to cyberbullying.
- Uneasiness when going to school – If they’re not excited about attending class or they’re reluctant to talk about their day, that’s a serious red flag that should be investigated.
- Changes in digital habits – Another observable sign of cyberbullying involves your child taking time off his computer or smartphone without any explanation.
How to Identify Cyberbullying
As parents, it’s essential to supervise our children’s smartphone usage to safeguard them from online predators and cyberbullies. Using a tried-and-tested parental control app such as Spynger is the best way to keep tabs on their digital activities.
Spynger is a revered monitoring app that’s equipped with a variety of helpful tracking features to help guardians detect cyberbullying. Some of these features include:
- Social media monitoring – Spynger provides unrestricted access to your loved one’s interactions and chat conversations on Tinder, Line, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat and other popular networking platforms.
- SMS & text message reader – You can also view sent and received SMS messages on the target device using this app. Shared photos, videos and links will also be provided.
- Keyword alerts – Spynger allows you to create a list of banned/inappropriate keywords. It then alerts you every time your child uses those words on their phone.
- Screen capture – This impressive feature takes screenshots of your loved one’s screen at regular intervals, giving you a hawks-eye view of their chats, notes, calendar events, browser activity and more.
Spynger offers users some much-needed peace of mind by actively scanning the target device and providing vital insights into other people’s smartphone activities. You can utilize this app to check whether your child is being bullied online and quickly nip improper interactions in the bud.
How to Maintain a Safe Environment
You could still be wondering: what are the signs that indicate a person is being cyberbullied? Some common indicators include losing interest in fun activities and performing worse in school. Here’s how you can maintain a secure environment for your child:
- Use Parental Controls
Make sure you utilize trusted tools to block inappropriate websites and addictive apps on your child’s phone. Setting up firewalls is a brilliant way to keep viruses at bay.
- Talk to Them About Online Safety
Educate your loved ones about the dangers that lie online. Let them know that you’ll be monitoring their phone activity so they can become cautious and responsible from a young age.
- Supervise the Websites They Visit
Either you or the babysitter near you check the content they consume online and make it clear that porn, gambling and other inappropriate sites are strictly off-limits. You can also set suitable screen times to foster their holistic development.
- Discourage Them From Providing Private Information
It’s vital to warn your children against filling out online forms and giving out confidential data on social media and dubious web pages.
Strategies for Dealing with Cyberbullies
What should you do if someone you know is being cyberbullied? The following strategies should come in handy:
- Block the bully’s social media accounts and emails. You can activate privacy settings to block their online accounts completely.
- Provide reassurance. Instill confidence and self-love in your child by letting them know they truly matter. Better yet, encourage them to ignore strangers and cyberbullies when using the internet.
- Notify forum moderators about the bullying incident. If the harassment took place in a group chat room, inform the administrators about the issue so that the bully’s account can get suspended.
Conclusion
Learning how to identify cyberbullying equips you with the awareness and confidence to protect your child from online threats. Subtle changes in behavior, unusual secrecy around devices, or sudden withdrawal from social activities can all signal that something is wrong. Recognizing these early warning signs is the first and most powerful step in stopping cyberbullying before it causes lasting emotional harm.
Open communication with your child is just as crucial as technology. Let them know they can talk to you without fear of judgment. Encourage honesty, and remind them that they’re not alone. You can also use parental control or monitoring tools to gain deeper insights into their digital world—especially if you’re concerned but unsure how to help. The online world can be unpredictable, but you don’t have to face it blind. With knowledge, tools, and a proactive mindset, you can create a safer space for your child—both online and offline.