Kaspersky Lab encourages parents to talk up about cyberbullying, this Youth Day

Cyberbullying - bullying that takes place using digital technology – is a significant issue affecting youth across the globe. In fact, a survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab and iconKids & Youth, found that six out of ten children worry about cyberbullying. Furthermore, the Kaspersky Lab Consumer Security Risks Survey 2016 found that 45% of South African respondents with kids, are concerned about their child becoming a victim of cyberbullying.

Says Riaan Badenhorst, General Manager, Kaspersky Lab Africa; “Cyberbullying confronts far too many children on the Internet, and as our research shows, it can have a negative impact on a child’s psyche and can cause problems for the rest of their lives. Our youth need to be protected from the danger’s they are exposed to in the virtual world – a world that is very real to them. Youth Day is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness on this issue and as a result, we wanted to offer some recommendations for parents to consider.”

Cyberbullying recommendations:

Talk about it - it can be very overwhelming to think, or even find out that your child is being cyberbullied, and of course you will want to fix it straightaway. However, like every serious issue, problems with cyberbullying cannot be solved in a few minutes. So, initiate conversations with your child about cyberbullying as soon as they gain access to the Internet, and emphasise why it is important to talk up about it; that it’s never their fault; and what can be done to help them, should they ever experience this. Help your children understand why it is so important to be honest about cyberbullying, whether they are experiencing it or if they know of someone else who is, to ensure that help can be given.

Don’t just take the device away - of course, the temptation is to take away your child’s device to try and avoid this situation happening again. Rather try to empower yourself, and them, with the right information. Talk to your child about basic online security and privacy guidelines - what this is and what it means for them, and why it is so important – especially when they join social networks. It is also important to show your children how to change the privacy settings on their devices as well as on social media - to prevent strangers from seeing their photos and data. And then speak to schools, and relevant organisations about steps that can be taken to further safeguard your child.

Seek assistance from a security solution - using a security solution, which has a parental control feature can also help parents protect their children. For example, Kaspersky Lab offers Kaspersky Safe Kids – a solution that helps children to enjoy the digital world, but away from its dangers. This solution helps you to manage and monitor device usage; you can set rules for internet access and see what your children are searching as well as sharing online.

“Stop Cyberbullying Day, is an internationally recognised day of awareness, founded and launched by The Cybersmile Foundation on June 17th 2012 - and this year is aptly being celebrated on Youth Day, 16th June 2017. Cyberbullying is a real issue affecting parents in the digital world. There are however a host of resources that parents can turn to for assistance, along with a number of relevant steps that can be taken, in protecting youth from this challenge - and certainly an organisation like SaveTNet as an example locally, can also provide further support and assistance”. For more information and tips for parents on cyberbullying, visit https://kids.kaspersky.com/parents/p-advice/