Parent Resources
STUDENT ONLINE ACTIVITY AND CYBERBULLYING
Cyberbullying is the use of electronic devices to harass, shame, incite and humiliate. Most cyberbullying takes place on social media platforms and at least one in three adolescents have experienced cyberbullying.
The online, often secret, lives of pre-teens and teens are impacting schools in new and alarming ways and we need your support, dialogue and informed decision-making when it comes to the technology your children are using and the content they are accessing.
Over the past three years, the pandemic has limited in-person social interactions and children and teens have been connecting through social media and chat apps such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp and Discord as well as the chat features in online games and gaming consoles. (Cyberworld from Saffron Centre includes detailed information about these apps). It is common for children and young people to have unlimited and unsupervised access to phones, tablets and computers, including in their bedrooms.
It is critically important that parents are aware of the terms of service for the social media, chat and gaming platforms their children use and the risks associated with exposure to harmful sexual, homophobic, transphobic and racist content as well as cyberbullying.
Children and young people need guidance, direction and monitoring as they create their digital footprints, develop digital citizenship skills and learn to navigate online communities in safe and responsible ways. We respectfully ask that you take time to educate yourselves and engage in open dialogue with your children about the safe and healthy use of technology in your home, at school and in the community.
- Learn about the apps and online games used by your children and the chat groups they belong to.
- Be aware that your children may be accessing social media apps and chat groups without your knowledge or permission, either on their device or a friend’s device.
- Ask your children to show you their online profiles, usernames, bios, who they follow, who follows them and who they engage with online.
- Speak frankly about the use of homophobic, transphobic and racist slurs and hateful language that normalizes misogyny and sexual violence, especially in ‘private’ group chats.
- Let your children know that you expect them to report any inappropriate behaviour, language, images, threats and/or cyberbullying they encounter when they are online.
Model and teach good security practices, including using strong passwords, limiting the amount of personal information you share, enabling privacy settings and not sharing photos without consent.
Resources and Articles for Parents
So, I Just got my kid a cell phone. Now What?
Social Media: What Parents Should Know
Telus Resources - Cyberbullying
Social Bullets - See something, say something, do something
Teens Face Relentless Bullying on Instagram
HELPFUL LINKS
Emergencies at Your Child's School
Government of Alberta - Education
HEALTH LINKS
Government of Alberta - Children and Youth Services
Online Internet Safety Information
LEARNING RESOURCES