Cyberbullying is on the rise. But we can arm our kids with practical strategies that will help them contain and combat harassment - to become “upstanders” not “bystanders” to online nastiness.

By now, we all know the serious and lasting harm that online bullying can do. We are also probably aware that, since the onset of the pandemic, rates of cyberbullying have skyrocketed.

Figures from Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, showed a 21% spike in reported cases among children at the height of the pandemic.

The chances are good that our own children have been affected - whether directly or indirectly, whether as targets or (as painful as it may be to imagine) as instigators.

In fact, a recent OECD study found Australian children are some of the worst bullies in the world, with 30 per cent of high school students reporting being targeted. 

How parents can help

We can’t press a “mute” button and magically silence all abusive and bullying behaviour online. 

And "it isn't possible for parents to be there looking over shoulders 24/7," admits Inman Grant.

But we can arm our kids with practical strategies that will help them contain and combat online harassment - to become “upstanders” not “bystanders” to digital nastiness.

Australia has one of the highest rates of bullying in the world. Now more than ever, our kids need guidance and support.

The obstacles

It’s no easy task, say experts. There are many reasons why kids may be reluctant to get involved as “upstanders.” Research shows that these can include:

• Fear of retaliation and being bullied themselves
• Fear of losing their social status
• Lack of knowledge about the individuals involved, the incident, and whether they perceive someone to be right or wrong in the situation
• Not believing teachers or school staff will address the bullying
• Fearing that adults will make the bullying worse.
• Not knowing what to do to help

Skip the B word

But before you sit down for a conversation with them, here’s a tip: Avoid the word “bullying.”

Yep - it may sound strange, but experts say the word can be a turn-off to children. No one likes to think of themselves as a “victim” - kids least of all. What’s more, older children and tweens generally have a definite (but of course misplaced) conviction that they are invincible.

“Part of adolescent development is a belief that bad stuff doesn't happen to them and they don't make bad stuff happen,” notes social worker Madelyn Burbank of the Amita Health Behavioural Medicine Institute.

“Part of adolescent development is a belief that bad stuff doesn't happen to them and they don't make bad stuff happen."

So skip right past the “B” word - and frame the conversation around the concept of “friends helping friends.” Why? Says Burbank, “Children may not believe something bad could happen to them, but they will believe it could happen to someone else.”

The Three Ds

That’s exactly why she and other child behaviour experts recommend the 3 Ds. Developed by global anti-violence advocate Alteristic, it’s a proven strategy for resisting online bullying - or whatever you want to call it! - based on three steps that are simple enough for even the youngest child to understand.

Here they are:

DIRECT. This first step involves your child going directly to the person causing the harm and telling them to stop, OR going directly to the person being hurt and asking if they are okay. 

DELEGATE. The second step is to tell someone who could help. The usual advice to “tell a trusted adult” may not be realistic or even effective for older kids.

Experts say delegating, or confiding in, a close friend of the person being targeted may be a better bet. Delegating may also involve reporting the incident formally to moderators of the relevant social media platform.

DISTRACT. Finally, encourage your child to do something to draw attention away from the situation. In politics, they call this “controlling the narrative.” Sometimes it can be as simple as changing the subject. 

Humour can be a powerful force in distracting attention away from online abuse. “Flood the feed with silly memes and GIFs until it takes too much effort to get the conversation back on track,” suggests Burbank.

Keep the conversation going

And the most important strategy of all? “Talking to your children and making sure they're prepared to act against bullying in all its forms,” she says. 

“When we respond quickly and consistently to the behavior, we send a message that it's not acceptable and, over time, can be corrected.”