Cyber Bullying: Mencegah

Waspadalah terhadap Apa yang Anak Anda Lakukan secara Online

Seorang anak mungkin terlibat dalam cyberbullying dengan beberapa cara. Seorang anak bisa diintimidasi, mem-bully anak lain, atau menjadi saksi bullying. Orangtua, guru, dan orang dewasa lainnya mungkin tidak menyadari semua media digital dan aplikasi yang digunakan anak. Semakin banyak platform digital yang digunakan anak-anak, semakin banyak peluang untuk terkena potensi cyberbullying.

Tanda Peringatan Seorang Anak di Bully atau Mem-Bully Anak Lain

Banyak tanda peringatan akan cyberbullying terjadi pada penggunaan perangkat oleh anak-anak. Beberapa tanda peringatan bahwa seorang anak mungkin terlibat dalam cyberbullying adalah:

• Peningkatan atau penurunan penggunaan perangkat yang nyata, termasuk pengiriman SMS.
• Seorang anak menunjukkan respons emosional (tawa, marah, kesal) terhadap apa yang terjadi pada perangkat mereka.
• Seorang anak menyembunyikan layar atau perangkat mereka saat orang lain berada di dekat, dan menghindari diskusi tentang apa yang mereka lakukan pada perangkat mereka.
• Akun media sosial dimatikan atau muncul yang baru.
• Seorang anak mulai menghindari situasi sosial, walaupun dimasa lalu dinikmati.
• Seorang anak menarik diri atau depresi, atau kehilangan minat pada orang lain maupun aktivitas lainnya.

Apa yang Harus Dilakukan Saat Terjadi Cyberbullying

If you notice warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying, take steps to investigate that child’s digital behavior. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, and adults should take the same approach to address it: support the child being bullied, address the bullying behavior of a participant, and show children that cyberbullying is taken seriously. Because cyberbullying happens online, responding to it requires different approaches. If you think that a child is involved in cyberbullying, there are several things you can do:

• Notice – Recognize if there has been a change in mood or behavior and explore what the cause might be. Try to determine if these changes happen around a child’s use of their digital devices.
• Talk – Ask questions to learn what is happening, how it started, and who is involved.
• Document – Keep a record of what is happening and where. Take screenshots of harmful posts or content if possible. Most laws and policies note that bullying is a repeated behavior, so records help to document it.
• Report – Most social media platforms and schools have clear policies and reporting processes. If a classmate is cyberbullying, report it the school. You can also contact app or social media platforms to report offensive content and have it removed. If a child has received physical threats, or if a potential crime or illegal behavior is occurring, report it to the police.
• Support – Peers, mentors, and trusted adults can sometimes intervene publicly to positively influence a situation where negative or hurtful content posts about a child. Public Intervention can include posting positive comments about the person targeted with bullying to try to shift the conversation in a positive direction. It can also help to reach out to the child who is bullying and the target of the bullying to express your concern. If possible, try to determine if more professional support is needed for those involved, such as speaking with a guidance counselor or mental health professional.