No one likes a bully. But unfortunately, bullying in the US has become an epidemic. Cyberbullying is the most prevalent form of bullying with experts estimating that nearly 60 percent of teenagers have experienced some type of cyberbullying or harassment online. And, with many schools having shifted completely to an online format, we can only anticipate these incidents to increase.
Cyberbullying often occurs in chatrooms, on message boards, on social media, or through text messaging. More often than not, educators and parents are not aware that their students and children are being bullied.
It is very important to teach students how to navigate cyberbullying and build the social skills needed to work through negative situations. Our curriculum has extensive video lessons designed to assist students with unique challenges such as cognitive impairments, on the autism spectrum, or a learning disability with understanding and processing bullying.
Unfortunately, the internet has given a platform for bullies to pester their victims with little oversight and it can sometimes be very difficult to recognize when a comment or post is in fact bullying. Here are some indicators for educators, parents, caretakers, or educators to recognize when a child is being cyberbullied:
- When the student/child uncharacteristically stops using their device.
- Refuses to talk about their technology usage/interactions online.
- If the student/child appears nervous, angry, or sad when using technology.
To prevent your student from being cyberbullied it is crucial that they know how to stay safe online, and if they are being bullied when to tell a trusted adult. Our curriculum provides in-depth lessons for students with disabilities to learn about how to navigate bullying, stay safe online, and ultimately build the social skills they need to live an independent life.
