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Article and resources for parents that explains what parents should know as it relates to children and digital content awareness.

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The digital world is constantly evolving with new social media platforms, apps, and devices, and children and teens are often the first to use them. Some negative things that may occur include cyberbullying, sexting, posting hateful messages or content, and participating in negative group conversations. If your child posts harmful or negative content online, it may not only harm other children; it can affect their online reputation, which can have negative implications for their employment or college admission.

While you may not be able to monitor all of your child's activities, there are things you can do to prevent cyberbullying and protect your child from harmful digital behavior:

Monitor a teen's social media sites, apps, and browsing history, if you have concerns that cyberbullying may be occurring.

Review or re-set your child's phone location and privacy settings.

Follow or friend your teen on social media sites or have another trusted adult do so.

Stay up-to-date on the latest apps, social media platforms, and digital slang used by children and teens.

Know your child's user names and passwords for email and social media.

Establish rules about appropriate digital behavior, content, and apps.

Digital Monitoring Apps and Software for Parents

Parents who want to protect their children from cyberbullying, harmful digital behavior, and exposure to adult content can use parental control and monitoring software to help them set up systems that are less invasive to their children.

There are free software options and apps available to help parents restrict content, block domains, or view their children's online activities, including social media, without looking at their child's device every day. Most of the free software options provide some features for free, but charge for more robust insight.

A parent should consider a child's age, device use, and digital behavior when selecting software - what is suitable to restrict for a ten-year old may not be useful for a teenager.

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The digital world is constantly evolving with new social media platforms, apps, and devices, and children and teens are often the first to use them. Some negative things that may occur include cyberbullying, sexting, posting hateful messages or content, and participating in negative group conversations.

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Social Media, Apps, and Sites Commonly Used by Children and Teens

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Social Media, Apps, and Sites Commonly Used by Children and Teens

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What parents should be aware of... "Parents may not be aware of the apps that their children use regularly or may not be aware of the risks involved in using them. There are many ways that cyberbullying can be hidden in apps and sites, such as texts, videos, and web calls that disappear or do not appear on the device’s call or text message logs." Stopbullying.gov

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Digital media and apps allow children to communicate and express their creativity, connect with peers, and share their feelings. However, they can be an avenue through which cyberbullying occurs. There are many types of apps and sites available for free that give users the ability to search for people and share or post information about them anonymously.

Parents may not be aware of the apps that their children use regularly or may not be aware of the risks involved in using them. There are many ways that cyberbullying can be hidden in apps and sites, such as texts, videos, and web calls that disappear or do not appear on the device's call or text message logs.

Many apps also make it easy for users to access, view or participate in adult or harmful content. Privacy and location settings may make them more vulnerable to stalking, cyberbullying, exposure to adult content, or other dangers.

Popular Social Media Apps and Sites

Some current popular social media venues and apps include:

Amino: An app that lets users join online communities, chats, forums, and groups on a variety of topics based on their interests.

Askfm: A social networking site that allows users to ask other people questions, often anonymously.

Calculator%: A "vault" or secret app that appears harmless, but hides photos, videos, files, and browser history.

Chatroulette: There are over 20 different chat roulette sites that allow users to instantly connect via webcam and video chat. Sites typically pair the users randomly and instantly.

Discord: A voice-over-IP (VOIP) app that allows users to video chat with others, private message, and join, create, or participate in public and private chat rooms. This app is often used by players to chat with each other while playing videogames.

Facebook and Facebook Live: The most commonly used social media site that is accessible on many different media platforms.

Facebook Messenger Kids: A messaging app and platform for children.

Houseparty: A group video chat and social networking app that allows up to eight people to video chat at once in a "room."

Instagram: A photo and video sharing and networking site that connects users through other social networking sites (e.g., Facebook).

Kik: Messaging app that allows users of all ages to contact others anonymously.

Line: A messaging app that allows users to make free phone calls, leave voice messages, and text. Users can delete texts or chats from recipient's phone using a timer.

LiveMe: A tool to broadcast live-streaming videos and watch other users' videos.

MeetMe: A dating app that connects users to others based on geographic proximity.

Omegle: An app that pairs users with strangers in anonymous one-on-one chat sessions.

Reddit: A site that stores social news, rates and evaluates web content, and discussion threads.

Roblox: An online game platform with free multiplayer games created by users. Roblox allows users to communicate with each other and join groups.

Sarahah: An anonymous messaging app that allows users to send anonymous messages to people they may know.

Snapchat: A photo messaging app that allows for sharing pictures and short videos that are intended to be erased shortly after delivery.

Telegram: Messaging app that allows users to share photos, videos, and files; make calls, and delete texts or chats from recipient's phone using a timer.

TikTok: An app that allows users to create and share their own videos where they lip-synch, sing, dance, or just talk.

Tumblr: A social networking site that allows posting of short blogs and media.

Twitch: A live stream platform for gamers to watch live stream content, chat, and connect

Twitter: A microblogging site that allows users to send, read, and reply to "tweets" or short messages.

VSCO: A photography app to capture and edit photos.

WeChat: An app that allows user to chat with friends, and to search for people nearby and around the globe.

WhatsApp: A private messaging app that allows users to text, send photos, videos, and location information to their contacts.

Whisper: An anonymous social media site that allows users to post and share photo and video messages.

YouTube: A video sharing platform that allows users to post and share videos.

YUBO (formerly YELLOW): An app referred to as the "Tinder for teens" that allows users to swipe right or left to accept or reject the profiles of other users.

YouNow: Broadcast, Chat, and Watch Live Video: An app that lets teens broadcast themselves live. They can see and respond to live chat or view other broadcasters and chat with them.

Risks of Social Media Apps and Sites

Social media has many benefits that must be balanced with the risks it presents. Risks to be aware of include:

Screening for harmful content on websites and apps varies widely.

Content posted can be incorrect, harmful, or hurtful.

Apps and platforms can be used to share harmful or adult content.

Apps and platforms can include users of all ages and allow children to connect with adults.

Apps and platforms can have no moderator for chats, groups, and forums that allow all types of content to be posted or shared.

Apps and platforms can allow all types of content to be posted or shared.

Privacy controls over who can view or access posted material vary across apps, and many users are not aware of how to use them effectively.

Apps that allow for real-time user videos "live streaming" can been used to show bullying, violence, suicide, and harmful acts as they are happening.

Some apps that include location information can be used to get personal information, such as someone's age, current location, or where someone lives.

Apps that support telephone calls do not show up on a call log, so parents may not know who their children are talking to.

Parents can search online for organizations that provide in-depth parental reviews of apps, platforms and games used by children to learn more about them. By learning about the risks, important security features, and other details about the apps, platforms, and games children want to use, parents can make an informed decision about how or if their child will use them.

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Social Media, Apps, and Sites Commonly Used by Children and Teens

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Digital media and apps allow children to communicate and express their creativity, connect with peers, and share their feelings. However, they can also be an avenue through which cyberbullying occurs. There are many types of apps and sites available for free that give users the ability to search for people and share or post information anonymously.

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Bully Prevention - Resources for Parents

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Bully Prevention - Resources for Parents

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This Parent Resources page from Stomp Out Bullying, has multiple resources for parents as it relates to bullying prevention, safe cell phone usage, how to speak to children regarding bullying and cyberbullying.

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My Child is Being Bullied | Bullying Resources for Parents

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Is your child being bullied? STOMP Out Bullying information and resources for parents of children being bullied.

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Lesson and Activities for Teaching Respect

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Lesson and Activities for Teaching Respect

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Can respect be taught? Of course it can! Parents do it all the time. Teachers do it, too. Try these five lessons to help you weave the theme of respect into your curriculum and classroom routine.

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If your students lack it or could stand to learn more about it, we offer five lessons to get them talking and thinking about respect. Included: Have a Respect Popcorn Party!
Can respect be taught? Of course it can! Parents do it all the time. Teachers do it, too. Try these five lessons to help you weave the theme of respect into your curriculum and classroom routine.

Rules Rap
Respect! Respect!
Respect is the key.
For we all can be successful
when we work as a team.
Following directions
is important for you
Really can be learning
when you know what to do.
Respect! Respect!
Respect is the key
For we all can be successful
when we work as a team.

Click here for additional stanzas of this rap created by two teachers -- or have your own students write additional lyrics. Brainstorm a list of respect-related words and let them go -- see what they can do!

Before introducing this week's new lessons, here are a few ideas to start your students thinking and talking about respect:

Have students work as a class or in small groups to brainstorm responses to the question, What does "respect" mean to me? Will they mention the "Golden Rule" -- treat others the way you would like to be treated -- as a simple definition of the word?

Have students make a list of synonyms for the word respect. For example, esteem, honor, regard, value, cherish, appreciate, admire, praise, compliment

Share books in which respect is a clear theme. You can find an excellent booklist at Children's Books That Illustrate the Six Pillars on the Character Counts Web site.

You will find additional activities at the bottom of this page, but first we want to leap right into our:
Five lessons for teaching about respect
Click each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)

Everybody is unique: A lesson in respect for others
Teach respect for others' unique qualities. (Grades K-8)

Simon says "Who are you?"
Play a variation of Simon Says to highlight people's similarities and differences. (Grades K-5)

RESPECT popcorn party
Reinforce respect by celebrating examples of it in your classroom. Student work sheet included. (Grades K-8)

Positively respectful
Create a positive environment by teaching students to show respect and share compliments. (Grades K-8)

Property: Ownership, respect, and responsibility
Students learn to respect others' property by rating the severity of a variety of damaging acts. (Grades K-12)
Additional lesson ideas

Different people have different likes and dislikes. To emphasize that point, you might invite each student to share something he or she likes very much. That could be a food, an activity, a place or anything else. After students share, you might ask some of the students to identify things that other students like but they don't like as much. Conclude the discussion by emphasizing that people should treat one another respectfully in spite of their differences.

Have students look through magazines for pictures that show people respecting others' differences or pictures of different kinds of people working or playing together. Create a class "We Respect Differences" collage.

After talking about some of the things that respect means, you might start a class or small-group discussion about what respect does not mean. What kinds of things or actions could be considered disrespectful? Students might provide such responses as rudeness, malicious gossip, criticism, insults As a follow-up activity, ask students to offer synonyms for the word disrespect. For example, rudeness, dishonor, ridicule, scorn, disregard, ignore, disdain

Copyright © 2016 Education World

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Lessons and Activities for Teaching Respect | Education World

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If your students lack it or could stand to learn more about it, we offer five lessons to get them talking and thinking about respect. Included: Have a Respect Popcorn Party! Can respect be taught? Of course it can! Parents do it all the time. Teachers do it, too.

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Students provide examples and ways to handle bullying if when witnessed. Be an up-stander, not a bystander!

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Video that explains and provides examples of what is cyberbullying.

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Video on the power of telling an adult, if you are being bullied and how restorative practices can work in a school setting.

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Information regarding bullying and "look fors" or warning signs that parents/guardians should understand and be aware of.

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US Department of Health and Human Services

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Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)

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What anyone can do to help prevent bullying.

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This site provides guidance and resources on bullying, cyber-bullying and prevention. There are videos and informational pamphlets that are beneficial.

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Stop Bullying on the Spot

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response.

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Bullying and Diversity Lesson: Simon says, Tolerance!

Brief Description

Students/Staff play a variation of Simon Says that highlights their similarities and differences.

This is a great activity for Health & Physical Ed. (elementary); SEL activity; faculty meeting/staff PD ice-breaker that  promotes team building, relationship building and tolerance.

Objectives

Students will explore their similarities and differences.

Lesson Plan

Explain to students that they will play a version of Simon Says in which only some students will respond to each command.

Tell students that they must watch carefully as they play the game because at the end, each student must tell one new thing they learned about a classmate.

Lead a game of Simon Says. Provide such directions as

Simon says "Everyone with brown eyes, stand up."

Simon says "Everyone who has a dog as a pet, put your right hand on your head."

Simon says "Everyone whose favorite sport is soccer, stand on one foot."

Simon says "Everyone who speaks more than one language, jump up and down."

and so on. Choose categories appropriate for your students.

At the end of the game, have students sit in a circle. Ask each student to name one way in which he or she and another student are alike. The trait they share must be something they didn't know before playing the game. Students might say, for example, "I didn't know that Katie spoke Spanish" or "I didn't know that Jose was left-handed."

Assessment
Students will be evaluated informally during the game.

Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Copyright © 2016 Education World

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This site provides information and resources to incorporate the Week of Respect into your curriculum.

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October is just around the corner, which means it is time for the "Week of Respect" to return to a school near you. Annually, New Jersey mandates public school districts across the state to embed this special week into their everyday schedules. I know what you're thinking - respect should be given all of the time, so what's the need for an entire week dedicated to it? As we know, bullying has become more prevalent within schools since the debut of easy internet accessibility and rising social media use. The "Week of Respect" was created with the intention of celebrating and embracing the impressive diversity present in New Jersey schools. This week-long event is not limited to bullying policies or tolerance; it also includes respect for self and is geared towards staff development, too. Respect is a generic term, but can be interpreted in many ways.
First...what can you as a teacher do to involve your students in this meaningful week?
I get it - you don't want to stray from curriculum and stop teaching content to address respect (which you already did while explaining your expectations on the first week of school). However, there are ways to intertwine these important life lessons for your students without stopping dead in your tracks. Here are some activities (easy to modify if needed) and tips to celebrate the beauty of diversity that embodies all of our schools.
Elementary Level Activities
Elementary School is where character building begins and relationships are formed. "Show and Tell" is always a great go-to for students to express important pieces of themselves through open discussion and sharing. However, a simple starter game of "Simon Says" will do as well. In this case, "Simon," or the teacher, will be promoting tolerance to the students. For example: "Simon says raise your right hand if you are ____ years old." "Simon says jump up and down if you have blue eyes." "Simon says stand on one leg if you can speak another language."

This basic childhood game is actually exposing the diversity of the classroom in a simple and enjoyable way. Afterwards, students will be required to locate a classmate who indicated different traits than he/she did and discuss them. Since elementary school teachers instruct all subjects, it is up to their discretion to assign a form of assessment on the activity. An ELA example could be to write and draw a picture of how you liked your classmate's unique trait; for example: how someone's ability to speak another language inspired you to try to do the same one day.

Lesson from: https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2061.shtml
Middle School Activities:
Physical, hormonal, and emotional changes all seem to disrupt middle school-aged students at one point or another. As self-discovery begins, the need to fit in becomes stronger and bullying emerges more often. These specific factors make this week key for recognizing the importance of respect. Coming from a science teacher's perspective, this next activity could hit the jackpot.

Inherited traits are always fun activities to explore because they are student-centered. Students will be required to walk around the classroom and note observations of eye color, hair color, hairline, earlobe attachments, etc. from other students. Then, students will be instructed to make inferences on where they believe their classmates inherited these traits from. A list or chart can be created to organize the data to conclude percentages and ratios of how many students have these traits in the class vs. how many do not/have different ones. Then a discussion can be held or the children can create a "Flipgrid" (student-recorded videos) of how we as a society should behave in light of these inherited differences.
Lesson from: https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/activities-understanding-respect-and-diversity High School Activities:
Flipgrid: https://flipgrid.com/

High School is a rather difficult time in some students' lives because this is where fitting in is most prevalent in a child's school experience. As the transition from a teenager into an emerging young adult begins, life can be confusing and self-esteem can be at risk. The same lesson from the middle school section above can be utilized here in a Biology classroom where students can investigate the ideas of phenotypes/genotypes and create Punnett Squares for inherited traits.
Lesson from: https://www.overcomingobstacles.org/updates/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/RESPECT.pdf Helpful Links and Resources: Anti-Bullying Policies
Down the hall in History class, we often speak about individuals who struggled, but paved the way to their own success by discovering their strengths. This idea is something we should observe in ourselves, too, which is why this next activity can be used in an ELA classroom as well. Students will be required to interview a classmate and interview them to identify five strengths they possess that they are proud of. Each student is required to give no less than five, as this promotes a healthy learning environment and positive self-reflection. Afterwards, students will be asked a series of questions about their partner such as, "Did you expect to have so much in common?" Then, each individual will be responsible to hang their list of strengths in a common place they visit: the bathroom, bedroom mirror, or in their car, to give constant reminders that they are important and stronger than they sometimes believe.
Facts specific to New Jersey's diverse population:
As teachers, we should make it a habit to reflect on this important topic of respect. We know that this should be at the top of our to-do list more often, but somehow, sometimes, we fall short. As teachers, one of the most powerful tools we have is our smile: it can make a student's day. This sounds cliché, but before we judge a book by its cover, let'smake sure to take the time to discover what's carefully crafted inside first.
Week of Respect (2017): NJ Policies - HIB: https://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/behavio https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/broadcasts/2017/AUG/29/16988/Guidance%20for%20Schools%20on%20the%20Week%20of%20Respect%20and%20School%20Violence%20Awareness%20Week.pdf
https://www.stopbullying.gov/ - this site informs us that New Jersey's anti-bullying laws prohibit harassment towards an individual's race, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation - just to name a few.

The Law Against Discrimination (LAD) mandates that students in public schools be permitted to use sex-segregated facilities, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, in accordance with their gender identity or expression. https://www.njsba.org/news-publications/school-leader/novemberdecember-2015-volume-46-3/gender-identity-and-school-law/

Casey Downie, BA P-12 Biology/Teacher of Students with Disabilities

6th Grade Science/Special Ed. teacher - Thompson Middle School, Middletown Township, NJ

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Easy Ways To Integrate The Week Of Respect Into Your Curriculum This Year | Plymouth Rock Teachers Lounge

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October is just around the corner, which means it is time for the "Week of Respect" to return to a school near you. Annually, New Jersey mandates public

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Great Activity to do in February to encourage Random Acts of Kindness (2/14 - 2/20)

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Kindness coins

Kindness coins have been around for a few years and I’m sure you have heard of them. The concept behind it is you give your kindness coin to someone you see that has done a random act of kindness, or someone you see do something special for someone else. That person can then go to the website and write a note about who gave them the coin and why. So, the coin has its own little story.

You can get a few kindness coins and set some ground rules. You can also make your own. Perhaps whomever has the coin(s) has to give it to someone in your class only. Or maybe it has to go to someone within the school. Whatever your ground rules are, this is a great way to not only encourage students to be kind and respectful, but it also allows them to recognize others doing it.

To get coins, go to: http://kindnesscoins.com/

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Plant a respect tree (This can be done in a classroom, cafeteria, hallway) Get Creative!!!

This one is pretty simple, but will have a lot of impact if your students are willing to participate and brainstorm.

Write the word “respect” on the board near the bottom or in the middle and draw a circle around it. As a class, start to brain storm what respect means to you and create branches off of that main circle.

Some examples can be self-respect, compassion for others, holding the door for someone, responsibility, empathy, etc.

Here is the important part. For each “branch” your class comes up with, have a short discussion about it. For example, self-respect you can talk about values, or being positive through a difficult situation.

This activity really gets your students thinking about how they want to treat themselves and others. Plus, that connection they have with you will definitely become stronger.

Make sure to take a picture of it when you are finished so you can reference it throughout the year and keep the conversations going.

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This site provides 1. Definition, Impact & Policy, Helping Your Child, Working With the School, Mobile & Online Safety

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Using Technology to Bully

With the rapid advancement of technology, bullying behavior has become a part of many children's experience online. Cyberbullying is when the Internet, cell phones, or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person. It encompasses a range of activities from sending emails or text messages to someone who has requested no further contact with the sender, but may also include threats, sexual harassment, inappropriate photos, and ridiculing someone publically in online forums. Some children who cyberbully may post lies, rumors or gossip about the target and encourage others to share and distribute that information.

Many parents are particularly concerned about cyberbullying because while adults often have an understanding of the bullying that happens face to face, using technology to hurt someone else may be a new phenomenon for them. While cyberbullying is still less common than traditional bullying, it can be particularly damaging because it:

can happen even after the child leaves school for the day,

can be anonymous,

is frequently very public with a potentially unlimited audience, and

is often easier to be cruel when you don't have face to face interaction.

At the same time, many parents are not active on the same websites or technology as their children and may not have knowledge of what their child is experiencing while online or on their phone.

Cyberbullying: What Parents Should Know

Students now live at a time of instant access to cell phones, tablets, or computers, which open the door to exciting new ways of connecting, interacting, and learning. However, these new modes of communication also present new challenges for parents. Not only do parents have to help children and youth navigate in-person social situations, they also need to prepare them for healthy relationships online. This 16-page booklet has information for parents on how to guide their children through this virtual world. Download the booklet.

Definition

While the definitions of cyberbullying, sometimes called online bullying, vary from source to source, most definitions consist of:

The technology, accessed through computers or cell phones, used to cyberbully includes:

For more information on the definition of cyberbullying, visit "Cyberbullying"

Other helpful definitions include:

Cyberbullying is defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices" (Hinduja & Patchin, 2015 ).

Cyberbullying occurs "when someone repeatedly makes fun of another person online or repeatedly picks on another person through e-mail or text message or when someone posts something online about another person that they don't like" (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2016 ).

Cyberbullying is intentional and repeated harm inflicted on others through the use of electronic devices (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2016 ).

Cyberbullying is as an aggressive, intentional act distributed by an individual or group, using contact in an electronic medium, continuously and relentlessly against someone who cannot stand up for himself or herself easily (Smith et al., 2008 ).

How Parents Can Help Kids Cope in the Age of Cyberbullying

In HEMAWARE, a digital magazine, author Rita Colorito interviews staff from PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, sharing important information for parents. "It's important for kids to know that they have a right to be safe on their cellphone just like they have a right to be safe in school. It should be a good experience," Hertzog says.

Plan to Protect Your Child From Cyberbullying

Today's children are the first generation to experience cyberbullying, and today's parents are the first that must determine how to respond to it. Remember, giving children access to technology is much like sending them to a mall or school dance. Children have rules, curfews, and guidelines when they venture into the outside world - they also need them in the cyber world. Set the rules, establish the parameters, and learn the technology.In fact, let your children show you how the technology works.

As you venture into this territory, consider these steps:

1. Raise the topic of cyberbullying with your child
Now that you know bullying online is a real possibility, initiate the conversation. Bullying can be hard for children to talk about with their parents for many reasons. They might be embarrassed by what is happening, afraid that if they tell that it will get worse, or think it is their problem. Online bullying can add additional complications. Many students can recognize bullying when it happens in person, but students might not interpret the mean and hurtful behavior that happens on their computer or cell phone as bullying. Children often think that if they tell their parents they are being cyberbullied, their parent's first reaction will be to "protect them" by removing their access to technology.

Open the subject for discussion, and tell your child:

"I understand how important it is to communicate with your friends by phone and online."

"You deserve to be safe from bullying online, just like at school."

"If something happening online is hurtful to you, it is bullying, and it's important to tell me about it."

2. Set cyber safety rules
You set safety rules for your child in the physical world. Do the same in your child's cyberworld. Remind your children that they never know who is on the other end of cyber communication. It could be the person they think it is, but because they cannot see that person, they should always proceed with caution in their exchanges.

With that in mind, here are two good guidelines: "Don't do or say anything online that you wouldn't do or say in person," and, "Don't reveal anything online that you wouldn't tell a stranger." Specific advice for your child might include:

Never give out your e-mail password, a photo, or any personal data, such as a physical description, phone number, or address. A person bullying could use that information to harass you in many ways.

Never share too many personal details. For example, if you keep an online diary, someone could use that information to bully or ridicule you.

Never share your Instant Messaging (IM) account password with anyone, even your best friend. That friend may share it with others - or the friendship may end - and your private messages could suddenly become public. A cyberbully with your password can sign on, pretend to be you, and behave inappropriately with others to embarrass and humiliate you.

Keep social media accounts private and do not "friend" people you do not know.

Never respond with "revenge bullying," as this can lead to a cycle of not only being bullied, but also become someone who bullies.

3. Know what your children are doing online
Privacy is important, but safety is more important. As a parent, you have a responsibility to know what your child is doing online. Establish rules about your access to your child's cell phones, text history, social networking sites, and other accounts they may use for posting information. Make decisions about passwords, how often you will check the accounts, and how inappropriate information will be handled.

Keep your child's computer in an open area, such as the family room, where you can supervise your child's Internet activity. Decide if there will be limits on access to using technology to communicate with peers, such as no computer or texting after 9 p.m., during meals, or until homework is done.

If you do discover that your child is experiencing cyberbullying, document it by printing the e-mails or web pages, saving electronic copies, and contacting your child's school or the police.

Technology offers your children many advantages and benefits - and occasionally some risks. The solution is not to remove their access to technology, but to manage these risks. You can do that by being aware of your child's cyber activities, learning about new technologies, and setting rules for your child's online use.

How do I start a conversation about cyberbullying with my child?

Talk with your kids about how to handle hurtful online behavior early and often, in the same way that you talk with your kids about being safe at school, in the car, riding public transportation, or playing sports. Visit the Questions Answered page which provides a 60-second response, a feature article, video, and online poll.

Starting the Conversation About Online Safety | PACERTalks About Bullying, Episode 14

Tips about how parents can start the conversation about online safety with their child or student.

Watch "Social Media & Bullying: Using Technology to Keep Kids Safe"

Staff from PACER's Simon Technology Center (STC) and National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) discuss the technology young people use, and the technology parents can use to keep them safe and raise responsible young digital citizens.

Watch the archived live stream.

A Conversation With Your 13-Year-Old About Facebook and Instagram

Sponsored by Facebook, Instagram, and PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center

Connecting Responsibly
Just a generation ago, teens were asking their parents for a phone in their room - maybe even one with a separate line or three-way calling - so they could connect with more friends. Today, a teen's desire to connect with friends has not changed, but the options for doing so have grown tremendously. Children are not only asking for their own mobile phones at a younger age, but they also want access to popular social media sites, like Facebook, and apps such as Instagram. While these platforms offer teens the opportunity to share ideas, photos, videos, and more, they come with the need for social responsibility too.

Setting up a new account
When you and your 13-year-old decide it is time to set up a Facebook or Instagram account, you should consider the following:

Begin with a conversation
Talk with your kids about safety and technology early and often, in the same way that you talk with your kids about being safe at school, in the car, riding public transportation, or playing sports.

Ask how Facebook and Instagram work
Share your teen's interest for connecting with others, and ask them to show you how Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms work. Teens are usually the experts. You can learn a lot from listening to them and, it shows that you value their interests and knowledge!

Establish some guidelines
Discuss with your teen what is and isn't appropriate information to share online. Ask them about privacy settings, and suggest that you regularly review the information together. Create a code of conduct, such as:

We will not use social media to humiliate or embarrass other people.

We will treat others online with the same respect that we do in person.

We will not post videos or photos of others without their permission.

Decide how you will interact online
Consider if you will interact with your child's account. If you have a Facebook account, and have friended your child, respect the same boundaries you use offline. Let your relationship dictate how you interact - whether you join a conversation among your teen's friends or if you post on their wall, for example. Think of social media as a get-together where kids gather at a friend's house, and how you might interact with them in that setting.

Safety Tips

While the majority of teenagers may never experience inappropriate behavior online, it is important to have a conversation about online safety with your child. When the doors of communication are open, if your teen becomes uncomfortable with someone's online behavior, they will be more likely to:

Know how to recognize that the behavior is inappropriate.

Recognize their rights.

Trust that you won't respond by removing access to their accounts.

Tell you about it.

Know that there are ways to prevent it from happening again.

Have more confidence in how to handle the situation.

Take action

If your teen tells you that they are being hurt, humiliated, or harassed on Facebook or Instagram, there are several steps they can take to make it stop. Share these tips with your child:

Ignore it - If the incident is something that doesn't really matter to you and won't affect your reputation, take a deep breath and let it go, and use some of the tools described below, like blocking and unfriending. Most bullies are looking for a reaction, so show them you're confident by not responding.

Unfollow or untag yourself from the offending post or photo - If someone has posted something you don't like, you may unfollow the post (on Facebook) or untag yourself from the post or photo (on Facebook and Instagram).

Unfriend the person - On Facebook, you can remove a connection to a friend that you are no longer comfortable sharing with by unfriending them.

Report the content to Facebook or Instagram - You can report any content that violates Facebook's Community Standards or Instagram's Community Guidelines. Remember to give a clear description of where the content is. You may also want to take screenshots of any offending posts, photos, or conversations with the person who is bullying you.

Block the person - If you are being harassed by someone, or if you don't want to be visible to them on Facebook, you can block the person from your timeline. When you block someone, they can no longer add you as a friend, send you messages or see your timeline, and you can no longer see theirs. On Instagram, you can also block another person, which means that they will no longer be able to see any of your photos or videos. Keep in mind that blocking someone also means you will no longer be able to report their content.

Social Reporting - Facebook offers the social reporting tool, which allows you to communicate directly with a person about content they have posted that you don't like. In cases of bullying or harassment, where you don't feel comfortable reaching out to the person directly, you can use social reporting to get help from a trusted friend.

Access the full guide here.

Record Keeping and Reporting

An important part of addressing a cyberbullying situation is keeping a record of what has happened. It's tempting for children who are being cyberbullied to delete messages and other bullying content sent to them, especially if they are trying to ignore the bullying. But this can become problematic if you need to provide proof of the cyberbullying to school officials or law enforcement officials later on. Remember that if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist.
How to capture evidence of cyberbullying:

Take screenshots of bullying content on a phone or computer.

Save emails, messages, texts, photos, etc.

If bullying is also happening in person, make sure to record the date and description of each event that your child tells you about.

Many social media sites have safety pages that provide guidelines for how to address cyberbullying on their site:

Check Your Knowledge

1. Why can cyberbullying sometimes be more damaging than traditional bullying?

1. It can happen at any time of day

2. It can by anonymous.

3. It can by highly public.

4. All of the above.

Check Answer

All of the above. While cyberbullying is still less common than traditional bullying, it can be particularly damaging because it can happen even after the child leaves school for the day, it can be anonymous, and it is frequently very public with a potentially unlimited audience. At the same time, many parents are not active on the same websites or technology as their children and may not have knowledge of what their child is experiencing while online or on their phone.

2. True or False: Any information your child puts online or on their phone can be easily shared, copied, and pasted in other places.

Check Answer

True. Talk to your kids about their "digital footprint" and the fact that what goes online stays online. Make sure your kids know that any information they share online-photos, videos, emails, text messages and more-can be easily shared, copied and pasted in other places.

3. True or False: Many social media sites offer some sort of system to report bullying content.

Check Answer

True. Many social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram have systems to report bullying content. You can report any content that violates Facebook's Community Standards or Instagram's Community Guidelines. Remember to give a clear description of where the content is. You may also want to take screenshots of any offending posts, photos, or conversations with the person who is bullying you. Facebook also offers the social reporting tool, which allows individuals to communicate directly with a person about the content they have posted that you don't like.

4. True or False: If your child is being bullied online, you should immediately delete all of the bullying messages and posts.

Check Answer

False. It's tempting for children who are being cyberbullied to delete messages and other bullying content sent to them, especially if they are trying to ignore the bullying. But this can become problematic if you need to provide proof of the cyberbullying to school officials or law enforcement officials later on. Remember that if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist. If your child is being cyberbullied online, it's important to take screenshots of bullying content on a phone or computer. Save emails, messages, texts or photos.

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With the rapid advancement of technology, bullying behavior has become a part of many children's experience online. Cyberbullying is when the Internet, cell phones, or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.

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This video can be used when introducing Acts of Kindness to complement Random Acts of Kindness Week in February (2/14 - 2/20)

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Turning Bystanders Into Upstanders Against Bullying

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Turning Bystanders Into Upstanders Against Bullying

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Teacher resources for teaching students how to be upstanders. Materials and resources can be used to enhance and support anti-bullying.

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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About one in five teens reports being bullied, which is harmful, but preventable. Stand up and be someone's hero!

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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For teachers, the site provides a ready-made curriculum that meets state and federal Internet safety mandates, complete with online testing and a national competition to encourage learning and participation.

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Grade Levels 3 - 8 Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge

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Grade Levels 3 - 8 Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge

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FBI-SOS is a free, fun, and informative program that promotes cyber citizenship by educating students in third to eighth grades on the essentials of online security.

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Video provides some quick tips to students on how to handle bullying.

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This site provides information and resources regarding how to prepare young children for the internet, social media and apps.

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TIPS FOR PARENTS

THE WORLD IS RAPIDLY CHANGING - EMBRACE THE CHANGE!

Digital technology and the internet now play a huge part in all of our lives - especially our children's. For the most part, school, work and social lives are now all successfully integrated with the internet, offering opportunities that we could have only dreamed of a few years ago - with our children at the forefront of this exciting age of change. Try and embrace the change by seeing it as an adventure rather than a challenge!

LEARN WITH YOUR CHILD

If we are to help our children reach their full personal and academic potential in this new technological era, then we must learn with them on how to use the internet responsibly and safely. Your children might even be able to teach you a thing or two!

STAY A STEP AHEAD OF YOUR CHILDREN

This can be a challenge for many parents who are unfamiliar with the technical devices, websites and social media platforms that their children visit. This parents guide will help you to understand the dangers posed to children online and how to deal with them together as a family.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!

There are plenty of resources for parents and lots of people who want to help out - you just need to find them! Sign up to the Cybersmile Support Community to access our community threads - ask and answer questions with the help of other parents, young people and trained Cybersmile advisors. Share your experiences - a problem shared is a problem halved!

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

It is vital that your child or children can come to you with their online problems, and communicate freely without the fear of losing internet privileges, such as the closing of their social media accounts or confiscating devices such as mobile phones or laptops. If you can build a relationship with your child/children, where they feel comfortable sharing their online problems with you, it is much more likely that you will be able to help them with any online problems that do occur in the future - before they escalate to the point where your child/children cannot see a way out of the situation.

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Digital technology and the internet now play a huge part in all of our lives - especially our children's. For the most part, school, work and social lives are now all successfully integrated with the internet, offering opportunities that we could have only dreamed of a few years ago - with our children at the forefront of this exciting age of change.