Children As Young As Five Are Prone To Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is common in children of all age groups, three in 10 secondary school children and one -ourth of primary school children were either worried or frightened by internet bullying, says a survey done for safer internet day as of parentdish.co.uk. When 7, 443 students were asked by Education charity tablet for schools about their internet experience, it was found that about a quarter of them had not shared their bad experience with any and maintained secrecy.

About 56 percent of parents were found to use Internet filters for child security, in spite of which, one quarter of primary school children and one half of secondary school children communicated with strangers using social media, reported the research. Children who admitted to have bullied others over the Internet did so either because they thought that it might fit them with social group or they thought doing so will help them not to become a target themselves, said another research on Action for Children.

Deanna Neilson, head of child protection at Action for Children, said that it was shocking to know cyberbullying is so prevalent among children. She also added that some children bullied others because of the problems they were going through in their lives and some in a fear to escape from bullying that was common around them. Stress at school, feeling of inferiority and peer pressure are the reasons behind a child taking out on others.

Parents should discuss with their children about their time online just how they ask their ward about their time at school. That way, it is easy to address the problem the child is facing, bullying or being bullied, said the researcher. There should be a constant communication between the parent and the child that in case anything goes wrong, the children will share it with their parents without any hesitation, said Will Gardner, chief executive of Childnet International and director of the UK Safer Internet Centre.

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