Ever heard your kids talking about “receipts”? Well, it’s probably not the shopping statement you’re thinking of, but likely the “evidence” of someone’s actions or words – usually in the form of screenshots, photos or videos.
While these “receipts” can be harmless, they also have the power to be used as social ammo to cyberbully others. A common example is when screenshots of private conversations are shared online, with the goal of publicly humiliating someone.
A study by the Ministry of Education found that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bullying in the world, and now there are constantly new ways to communicate, which means there are more ways for bullies to bully their victims. In fact, our nib 2023 State of the Nation Parenting Survey uncovered that 47% of Kiwi parents surveyed were concerned about their child being a victim of online bullying, and 37% were concerned about their child being a perpetrator (up from 30% in 2022).
A study by the Ministry of Education found that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bullying in the world.
To encourage healthy online behaviour in your child, check out our top tips for combatting both sides of this issue.
Don’t take your child’s device away
Your first instinct might be to remove your child from where the bullying is occurring, but this can limit access to their support networks, such as friends or other forums they seek help from.
It can also make your child more likely to hide things from you and prevent them from practising healthy online behaviours, both as a victim or perpetrator.
Understand the situation
It can be difficult for children to reveal that they’ve been cyberbullied. It’s important to listen and then respond in a calm, supportive manner so they’re more willing to talk about the details.
