Conversation starters
Cyberbullying

A practical guide for parents of 14+ year olds

With the support of Ditch The Label, a cyberbullying charity, we’ve created a guide on how to talk to teens about cyberbullying and give them the right support.

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With the support of Ditch The Label, a cyberbullying charity, we’ve created a guide on how to talk to teens about cyberbullying and give them the right support.

Cyberbullying conversation starters: 14+year olds

Before you start the conversation

Think about when and where best to talk to them – in the car or a neutral place where they feel safe
Jot down what you want to say to focus your mind, and make the conversation relevant to them
Be open and encouraging to make them feel supported
Have a few bite sized conversations to give them time to process

What you need to know

Having an honest relationship with your child is the first step in being able to tackle cyberbullying
Talk to them about their digital lives, just as you would their offline lives
A large majority of young people that have experienced bullying will never tell anyone or report it because of fear that it will not be taken seriously
Ditch the Label research found that those who have experienced bullying themselves are also twice as likely to go on and bully others
Bullying is a learnt behaviour – so it’s important to set a good example and regularly reinforce being a good digital citizen

Key warning signs

Aggressive behaviour
Self-isolation
Lack of appetite
Hesitancy to go to school
Over consumption of the internet and online games
Sudden behavioural changes
Visible signs of self-harm

Tips to prevent cyberbullying

Bring digital experiences up into normal, everyday conversations
Remember, there is often little distinction between what your children do online and offline
Remind your child that they should always treat others as they want to be treated
Talk to them about any prominent cases of cyberbullying in the media and any trending apps or platforms as a starting point to discuss the issue
Discuss the potential consequences of what they say and do online, along with the ‘stickiness’ of the web. Once it’s out there, it’s very difficult to remove content
Talk about how they would deal with seeing someone else being bullied and what steps to take
Help them to understand that their behaviour in online environments should reflect their offline behaviour
Check to see if they’re aware of how to report or block people on the apps they use
Make them aware of places to turn for help like Ditch The Label who have a dedicated online support hub and community available at www.DitchtheLabel.org
Encourage your child to set high privacy settings and not to connect with anybody they don’t know offline
Help them gain the social and critical skills they need to navigate the online world

Tips to deal with cyberbullying

Listen to what they have to say and make sure they know you are taking it seriously
Help them feel empowered and supported to deal with the situation
Ask them how you can help them, or what steps they want to take next
Collect evidence and together assess how serious the cyberbullying is by the impact it has had on your child
Report and block the perpetrator to the site’s administrators/moderators
If they are the perpetrator, help them understand the impact of their actions, what to do to deal with consequences and change their behaviour. It’s also important to show you understand why they are behaving in such a way

What you can do next

Check in with them regularly
Be involved in their digital life, ask them to show you the apps/games they use
Be aware of the signs of cyberbullying and keep an eye on their behaviour
Create an environment where they feel safe to talk to you or a trusted adult about what they may be going through

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Conversation starters
Cyberbullying

A practical guide for parents of 14+ year olds

Cyberbullying conversation starters: 14+year olds

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On site links

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Download Workbook

Conversation starters Cyberbullying

A practical guide for parents of 14+ year olds

Cyberbullying conversation starters: 14+year olds

More to explore

On site links

Related Web Links

Conversation starters
Cyberbullying