by John Gomez | Last Updated: July 12, 2016

The Internet has changed the world in just about every way imaginable.  Our lives are extremely different from what the average person did on a daily basis even 20 years ago.  With the Internet has come a lot of important progress.  The Internet also has its share of downsides.  When everything can be done faster than ever before and involve more people more quickly than ever before, effects can become severe.  Perhaps no issue shows how this translates to reality more than cyberbullying.  What’s potentially worse is the possibility that a dangerous generational gap exists between children who are being cyberbullied and the parents of children that age.  A look at some available statistics will hopefully motivate parents to stay very involved in the online lives of their children and perhaps help them look for signs of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying – Enough is Enough

Enough Is Enough, or EIE, is a non-profit organization that has been around basically as long as the Internet.  EIE’s stated mission is to make the Internet safer for children and families.  In furtherance of that effort, EIE provides the public with statistics and other information to help deal with problems that the online world can present.  A full breakdown of statistics provided by EIE with regards to cyberbullying can be found here.  Some of the more startling statistics include the following:

1. 33 percent of teenagers in the United States have been victims of some form of cyberbullying.
2. 7 percent of parents in the United States are worried about cyberbullying.
3. Teens who reported being bullied online stated it was for the following reasons:
   1. Appearance – 61 percent
   2. Academic achievement/intelligence – 25 percent
   3. Race – 17 percent
   4. Sexuality – 15 percent
   5. Financial status – 15 percent
   6. Religion – 11 percent
   7. Other – 20 percent

What’s particularly troubling for some is the gap between the number of teens who have been targeted for cyberbullying and the small percentage of parents who are concerned about it.

Signs of Cyberbullying

If you have a child, you almost certainly have a child who spends time online.  Therefore, all parents should be aware of potential signs of cyberbullying so they can be spotted and dealt with.  Almost every recommendation you can find with regards to this issue comes down to spending 10 – 15 minutes per day talking with your children.  No one knows them better than you do so you’re more likely than anyone else to figure out that something is wrong even if they don’t tell you about it specifically.  Aside from that, some common signs of cyberbullying include:

1. Hesitation to go to school when it’s clear he or she is not ill
2. Unwillingness to talk about what he or she does while online
3. Trouble sleeping at night
4. Abruptly walking away from a computer or tablet repeatedly
5. Weight loss/loss of appetite
6. Withdrawing from friends or loved ones
7. Lack of energy

There are several others, but the bottom line is that if you suspect something is wrong with your child, you should act on those instincts.

If you find out that your child is being bullied and that those responsible for his or her safety are not fulfilling that important duty, you may also need to obtain legal advice.  Contact the children’s rights lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation.

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