{"id":101145,"date":"2020-05-16T09:02:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T16:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=101145"},"modified":"2025-08-20T05:31:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:31:53","slug":"is-your-child-being-cyberbullied-what-parents-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/is-your-child-being-cyberbullied-what-parents-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Child Being Cyberbullied? What Parents Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this season of social distancing, teens need their friends more than ever. Daily digital connection \u2014 through texting, video chat, social networks, and gaming \u2014 is critical to keeping friend groups strong. But could increased time online these days lead to an increase in cyberbullying?<\/p>\n

While there isn\u2019t data to answer that question definitively, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising for parents to notice some signs of conflict surface as the months continue to creep by. And, with re-open dates for schools in limbo, it\u2019s more important than ever to keep the family safety conversation humming.<\/p>\n

For clarity: Allowing more screen time doesn\u2019t mean more cyberbullying or conflict is certain to occur. However, experience has taught us that more screen time does increase\u00a0the potential<\/em>\u00a0for digital conflict.<\/p>\n

Social and Emotional Fallout<\/h2>\n

This unprecedented health event hasn\u2019t been easy on anyone, but kids especially are likely to be holding onto some big emotions about it. A recent Common Sense Media\u00a0study<\/a>\u00a0confirms that social media has been key to helping kids get through this crisis, but one in four kids surveyed feels \u201cmore lonely than usual.”<\/p>\n

The school year with its milestones \u2014 proms, graduations, dates, parties \u2014 ended abruptly. It\u2019s logical to assume these losses have sparked feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, and anxiety. And because online is where most kids connect with peers, these emotions can easily play out there in the form of aggressive behavior, conflict, or persistent drama.<\/p>\n

Digital Awareness<\/h2>\n

So how do you know if your child is being cyberbullied or dealing with conflict online? It isn\u2019t always easy simply because so many kids won\u2019t admit to being bullied. Often they believe telling an adult will make the harassment worse. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed about a regretful situation or the fact that they’re being targeted in the first place. For that reason, one of the best ways to help your child is to be aware of the time they spend online, the people they connect with, and how those digital circles impact their wellbeing.<\/p>\n

What to Look For<\/h2>\n

The many forms of cyberbullying continue to evolve alongside the digital culture. Here are just a few ways kids bully one another.<\/p>\n

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