Tipsheet: How to combat cyber bullying

What is cyber-bullying?
Sending nasty electronic messages via Internet or cellphone
Sending or posting gossip or rumour to damage reputation or friendships
Pretending to be someone else and sending negative messages to get others in trouble or hurt their reputation or friendships
Posting real or digitally enhanced photographs of someone online without their permission
Using a website to rate some-one's appearance or popularity

What can adults do if a child is being cyber-bullied?
Save evidence -- phone and Internet records can be traced
Tell bully to stop if identity is known
Report to school authorities
Notify police

How can parents combat cyber-bullying?
Keep computers in shared family space -- and not in child's bedroom
Learn everything about what your child is doing online; be familiar with any profile sites (Facebook etc.) web pages and blogs they use
Know your child's passwords
Teach child never to post online or send in a text any message they wouldn't want the entire world to read

Source: Web Aware, Rock Solid Foundation and UVic Centre for Youth and Society