The most common ways children are bullied outside of school are cyberbullying and social exclusion.
What you need to do first
If your child has been bullied outside of school you are going to want to act quickly. Your child is going to need your emotional support to feel safe and to process the situation.
One of the most important things parents can do is keep a record of what happened so you can resolve the situation.
If your child is being bullied on social platforms you are going to want to screenshot everything that happened. You can do this with your phone or by taking pictures with a second phone. Some social platforms let the person know that you have taken a screenshot, so if you don’t want the bully to be aware you are tracking their actions, use a second phone.
You need the screenshots to report to social media platforms, the school and possibly law enforcement if the situation is serious.
Documenting the Bullying Incidents
Start by tracking exactly what happened with detailed records. Include the date, location, what exactly took place and who was there when the incident happened. Were there any witnesses at the time it occurred?
If your child has injuries such as bruising, take screenshots with a date stamp. If you need to report what happened to the school or the authorities you can provide a copy of the evidence.
It is important to keep a timeline of events to fully understand what happened. Once you have a timeline it can provide you with clarity about the situation, and if the bullying has been going on for a while.
Report your child’s bullying to social platforms
Social platforms have a process for reporting bullying and you should start with the following steps:
- Start with Finding the Platform’s Guidelines: Each platform will have guidelines of what they consider to be bullying, harassment or unacceptable behaviour.
- Find the Reporting Feature: Each platform will have a report of a problem or Flag a post reporting tool.
- Follow the Prompts: After you click on the report option you will be guided through a series of prompts of what to do next.
- Provide Evidence of what happened: Provide screenshot(s) of what happened so the moderators can clearly see that your child is being harassed.
- Confirmation: After you have reported what happened, you should receive a confirmation that your report has been received
- Monitor your child’s social media account: If the bullies persist in harassing your child, continue to report the situation to the platform.
- Block or mute the bully: You probably want to block the child who has been harassing your son or daughter to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
If the bullying is severe or poses a threat to safety, it’s also important to report it to local authorities.
The police have specialized units who can track online social crimes
Many police departments in larger cities have specialized units who handle cyber crimes. Officers are trained to track and investigate social media offenses, cybersecurity and digital forensics.
These offices can assist you in cases of harassment and cyberbullying, social crimes that happen online. If you feel that a crime has been committed, reach out to your local law enforcement who can guide you on the appropriate course of action to take.
Two students tried to frame a school principal on social media
In a recent news story, two students claimed that their school principal had been sexting them, prompting an investigation by the police crime unit. As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that the girls had created a fake account impersonating the principal and sent the inappropriate messages to themselves.
Thanks to the diligent work of police forensics, the truth came to light, and the two students found themselves in serious trouble for their actions.
I am sure the student’s parents were in for a rude wakeup call after discovering that their children were capable of committing such a crime with serious repercussions.
Do schools take action when a child is cyberbullied outside of school?
Many schools do take action when a child is cyberbullied, even if the incidents occur outside of school. Schools have policies regarding cyberbullying, and if they don’t let the school know that your child being harassed by classmates on line not only affecting your child emotionally, but it is also making it hard for your child to focus on their studies.
Reach out to the school and report what has happened. This is when you are going to want to have all the details of your timeline, and evidence including screen shots. The school should take the appropriate steps to address the situation.
When you should consider Involving the Authorities
If your child is being harassed or threatened you should consider involving the authorities in your city or town. Share details and any evidence of what happened.
Signs that you should call the police:
- Your child is experiencing physical harm or threats
- There is vandalism or damage to your house or your child’s property
- Your child is persistently being harassment online or in person
Frequently Asked Questions:
Many parents find it emotionally overwhelming when their child is being bullied, and feel paralyzed and don’t know what action to take. Here are some commonly asked questions that will help you navigate the situation effectively.
1. What is the best way that parents can support their child who is dealing with bullying outside of school?
Encourage your child to share how they feel and validate their emotions. Let them know that the bullying is not their fault and that you love them and you are always going to be there to support them.
2. What steps should be taken to address bullying incidents that occur in neighborhood playgrounds or parks?
If you see your child being bullied, intervene and contact the school or the local authorities to report what happened. If you are with someone, ask them to take a video as you remove your child from the situation.
3. What are the best practices for documenting incidents of bullying to take further action?
Create a log of what exactly has happened, including the location, date and time, witnesses and anyone else involved. The documentation and timeline will come in handy if you need to report to local authorities or the school.
4. How should my child respond to bullying when an adult is not present?
Parents want to role play different responses so their child is prepared for a bully. You will want to work on responses to teasing, building your child’s confidence and even consider enrolling your child in martial arts classes.
