All about cyberbullying.

Bullying does not stop at the school gates. It can continue online. What is cyberbullying exactly? How do you spot it? And what role does the school have? This article tells you all about it.

Cyberbullying, what is it?

Cyberbullying happens online. Through social media like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, whatsapp, email, or in a game environment.

Your child gets nasty messages. These can be personal comments, sometimes visible to everyone. Or someone talks badly about your child online by posting or sharing photos or videos.

Sometimes cyberbullying goes so far it includes threats or death wishes. Cyberbullying is very serious because it goes on all day. Even when your child is at home.

How do you spot cyberbullying?

For parents, cyberbullying is sometimes hard to notice. Your child will not easily say they are being bullied online. You can notice it by a change in behaviour or even physical complaints.

You can often ask your child to show you a favourite app or how the mood is in the class group chat. Or you can be online yourself to keep an eye on what happens. Through your own social media accounts or by looking at your child’s accounts or phone with their permission.

Read how to spot bullying

What should the school do about cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying often happens mostly outside school hours. Is it then the school’s business? That depends on the situation, but in many cases your child also deals with it at school.

Does bullying happen in a class group chat? Or do children from the class or school bully online? Then the school must always do something. Your child does not feel safe at school because of the cyberbullying. And even if it does not happen in the classroom, the social environment at school is the base of the bullying.

Is your child bullied online outside school? For example, at the sports club? Then it can also help to involve the school. Especially when these children go to the same school.

When your child feels unsafe at school, the school is partly responsible for fixing the bullying. The school has the duty of care to keep students socially safe.

Read what the school must do about bullying

What can you do yourself?

Children meet the digital world of whatsapp and social media at a younger age. It is more important to talk often with your child about the online world.

Keep the subject open and come back to it often. This way your child knows they can come to you if it happens. You can also ask if your child sees anyone being bullied online. This creates space to talk about what you could do against it.

Read what you can do against cyberbullying