The Cost of Cyberbullying

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Kids in a Digital World at Home

A home should offer our children a sense of sanctuary—a place to decompress at day’s end, to feel cherished, and, above all, to feel secure. Yet, today’s digital landscape follows and for many families, home is no longer a guaranteed escape from the pressures and risks of the online world.

Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, video games, and messaging apps have become the main channels for peer interaction. There are few established guidelines for engagement, and while positive exchanges occur, the reality is that negative interactions are inevitable. 

Research on Cyberbullying and Kids

A 2022 study by Pew Research highlights a troubling trend: nearly half of U.S. teenagers have experienced bullying or harassment online, with physical appearance frequently cited as a contributing factor. Older teen girls are especially vulnerable, reporting higher rates of online abuse and appearance-based targeting.

What can Cyberbullying look like?

My friend had one of those terrible experiences with her daughter in high school. Her oldest was unrelentingly bullied on her phone by kids from her school for starting a friendship with a boy that one of them had previously dated. My friend did everything she could to stop it. She worked with the school’s administration and helped her daughter block, unfriend, and remove the known offenders. Then there were new accounts and users her daughter didn’t recognize sending her death threats. Her daughter was so traumatized, she had to seek counseling for her.

They ultimately opted to complete her senior year from home. This prolonged life-changing ordeal resulted not only in tremendous stress for their family, but also in lost days from work and some unplanned expenses for a single mom on a fixed income.

What You Can Do About Cyberbullying

If you observe warning signs that a child may be experiencing or participating in cyberbullying, it’s important to carefully monitor their online activities and take proactive steps. Cyberbullying is a serious form of bullying, and a thoughtful, supportive response is essential. Start by offering support to the child affected, address the behaviors involved, and reinforce that cyberbullying will not be tolerated. Since these incidents occur online, your response may need to include new strategies and resources. If you suspect a child is involved in cyberbullying—whether as a target or participant—consider the following actions:

• Pay attention—Be alert to any shifts in your child’s mood or behavior, and consider what may be contributing to these changes. Pay particular attention to whether they seem to occur after your child uses digital devices. Be alert to any shifts in your child’s mood or behavior, and consider what may be contributing to these changes. Pay particular attention to whether they seem to occur after your child uses digital devices.
• Ask questions and document—Ask thoughtful questions to better understand what occurred, how it began, and who is involved. Document all incidents thoroughly, noting exactly what happened and where. Whenever possible, capture screenshots of harmful messages or content. Because most laws and school policies define bullying as repeated behavior, keeping detailed records can be instrumental in documenting and addressing the situation.
• Report—Most social media platforms and schools now maintain established policies and clear reporting procedures. If your child is being cyberbullied by a classmate, promptly report the situation to school officials. In addition, you can contact the administrators of the app or social platform to report inappropriate or offensive content and request its removal. If your child receives physical threats or is exposed to potential criminal or illegal behavior online, immediately notify local law enforcement.
• Provide support—When appropriate, consider whether professional assistance—such as involving a school counselor or mental health professional—may be beneficial for those involved. Public intervention might involve sharing encouraging comments to help redirect the conversation in a supportive direction. It may be helpful to reach out to both the child targeted and the child engaging in bullying to express concern and offer support. 

Protecting Your Family From the Cost of Cyberbullying

Our world and our homes have dramatically changed over the last twenty years. The way we interact and do life has changed. Here at Northern Neck Insurance, we recognize these challenges for Virginia families. More and more, folks are seeing the need to protect their families from cyberbullying and other online threats, like identity theft, cyber extortion and ransomware, fraud, and big data breaches. And cyber security is becoming commonplace as we look for ways to take more offensive measures.  

We want to help you protect your Virginia family in this connected world . For more information on financial protection from cyber threats, contact your local independent agent. For tips and resources on how to prevent cyber bullying, visit  Stopbullying.gov. To learn more about how to prevent cyber crime against your family, go to the National Cyber Security Alliance.

Learn more about cyber insurance in Virginia >

Sources:

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/

https://www.stopbullying.gov/

THE NORTHERN NECK INSURANCE INTEGRITY PROMISE — We pledge to provide straight talk and good counsel from our NNINS Virginia insurance experts through our blog. While we hope you find this to be a helpful source of information, it does not replace the guidance of a licensed insurance professional, nor does it modify the terms of your Northern Neck Insurance policy in any way. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy.