Who is Grace?

Who is Grace McComas?

Grace killed herself in 2012 after being subject to ongoing and relentless cyber bullying and harassment by a neighbor. The cyber bullying took place relentlessly through social media.

"In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense."

It's imperative that parents, teachers, and school administrators stay aware of cyber bullying issues and how we can address them. We can not allow cyber bullying to happen. We can not let what happened to Grace, and many other young children, happen to anyone else.

Refer to this PDF below for more information on Grace's Law and how you can protect yourself and others from cyber bullying.

https://mrhs.hcpss.org/sites/default/files/Graces%20Law-Bullying.pdf

Final Thoughts...

Check out this video where teens discuss cyber bullying!

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Talking to your teens about safe social media use

Questions to ask your children!

Leave your comments below on your thoughts and concerns!

Can you believe that...?

45% of children admit they have experienced bullying online

70% of children admit they have witnessed cyber bullying

50% of children admit to be scared of their online bullies

Cyber bullying victims are 3 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide

Only 2 in 10 victims will inform their parents or teachers of online attacks


So, how can we decrease these statistics? 

1. Talk openly! It is imperative to have open and honest conversations with your children. The more you talk, the more you know. 
2. Monitor online activity! Like talking, monitoring your child's phone and devices allows you to be aware of what is going on in their digital life. The more you monitor the online activity, the less likely they are able to cyber bully and the less likely a cyber bully will continue. 
3. Set limits! Set time ranges or time limits for phone/device usage. This will limit the amount of time they are on social media, or messaging online friends!
4. Tattling vs. Reporting- Teach your children about the difference between tattling and reporting. Tattling is reporting someone for wrong doing, and reporting is to give a written statement of what is going on. See the chart below!

When and how should you report cyber bullying?

Is your child being cyber bullied? 

Are you wondering how to report the cyber bullying?

When should you report it? 

Look no further! Your answers are below!

Immediate Steps to Take

Step 1: Keep evidence of cyber bullying- Keep screenshots or print outs of the cyber bullying. This is good evidence and can't be deleted. 

Step 2: Have your child block or delete the person who is doing the cyber bullying.

Step 3: Report cyber bullying to the social media website so they can take down the post. 

When and Where To Report Cyber Bullying

Social Media: Report the post or user to the social media site. Depending on the cyber bullying, the social media site probably has terms and agreement against it. If you report the post and it still isn't taken down, contact the social media site.

Law Enforcement: You should report cyber bullying to law enforcement when the bullying includes...

• Threats of violence 
• Posting a picture/video of someone in privacy
• Stalking
• Hate Crimes 

Schools: You should report cyber bullying to the principal of a school when...

• The cyber bullying will cause a disruption to the learning environment.
• The cyber bullying is related to or has happened in person as well
• You can fill out a harassment form against the bully

How can you look for warning signs?

Do you want to stay on top on your kid's devices?

Do you want to make sure they aren't being cyber bullied? Or make sure they aren't the cyber bully? 

There are some warning signs you can look for! 

1. A dramatic increase in device usage 
2. Your child hides their screen when someone else is near 
3. Your child becomes withdrawn from social situations 
4. Your child starts showing signs of depression and/or anxiety 
5. Your child shows strong emotional reactions to what is happening on their device
6. Your child avoids discussions about what they are doing on their device 

Now that you know the warning signs, what can you do about it? 

First, you should start by checking your child's device more frequently. If your child has a pass code on his/her phone, you should know it and should be able to access it easily. Of course, we want our children to have a sense of privacy, but they are still young and impressionable, so we need to be careful! Next, if you notice any of these warning signs stated above, you should have an open and honest conversation with your child about what they are doing on their device. Explain to them what cyber bullying is and ask them if they know anything about it. It is imperative that you can have these open and honest conversations with your child, the more you know, the less they can hide! 

Do you feel like your child is being cyber bullied? Make sure you read the next blog!

What is Cyber Bullying?

The term "cyber bullying" means the use of the Internet or online technology to harass, intimidate, or cause harm to another. Cyber bullying is a problem for children, teens, and adults who have access to technology. Cyber bullying can be done through cell phones, lap tops, desktop computers, and tablets. Sometimes, cyber bullying can be more harmful and traumatizing than actual bullying. The main reason behind this is that cyber bullies can "hide" behind a screen. So, the things they say and do to people behind the "screen" can be more aggressive and mean. Cyber bullying is extremely prevalent in today's society, especially with students as young as 5 getting cellphones. So, now that you know what cyber bullying is, we need to know how to prevent it and protect our children!