Cyberbullying happens over the internet and mobile phones. It is harder to prevent because on the internet people can use different names in chat rooms, or send messages from temporary email addresses. The most common methods of cyberbullying include but are not limited too:

* chat rooms, blogs and forums – although many of these are moderated, people involved in discussions can be sent abusive responses
* text messaging – abusive and threatening texts can be sent to mobile phones
* picture and video clip messaging – offensive images can be sent to mobile phones
* email – new addresses can be set up in minutes and used to send offensive messages and images
* social networking and personal websites – messages and images can be posted in the relevant sections of these sites
* Instant Messenger – quicker than email, this allows users to have conversations
* webcams – usually used to view each other when chatting online, children can also be sent abusive images or encouraged to act in an inappropriate way while being filmed
* Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) – online software used by schools to enable staff and pupils to interact with each other, abusers can use the various forms of communication to send offensive images and messages
* video hosting sites – children may be accidentally exposed to pornographic images or even find themselves the subject of films being shown

What parents can do?

As with other types of bullying it is important for parents to listen to their child and react with sympathy – children should know that bullying is always wrong and that seeking help is the right thing to do.

Try the following tips to help keep your child safe from abuse:

* encourage your child to talk to you about anything that’s upsetting them
* make sure they only use moderated chat rooms
* get them to show you any abusive or offensive messages they’ve received and keep a record of them
* tell them never to respond to any abusive messages or calls – this is frequently what the abuser wants
* tell them to avoid giving their name, email address or mobile phone number to people outside their circle of friends and family
* change email address or telephone number if the abuse continues
* report any abuse to the police, your child’s school, the internet service provider, the website manager/moderator or the mobile phone company
* install computer software to ensure that you only receive emails from people you have chosen and to block unwanted images