Our children and the digital harassment

While online harassment can happen to any age, it is common among children and teens because they have grown up in this era and its vast spaces. One of the problems with electronic harassment is that in most cases it is not as clear as the difference between black and white. For this reason, children may be hesitant about telling their parents or asking someone to intervene about such harassment. Whether the abuse occurs online or in the real world, it can have a long-lasting impact on the child overall. 

#Digitalharassment can lead to:

• The child suffers from constant anxiety and fear.
• Desire to harm oneself.
• Eating disorders.
• Suicidal thoughts. 

#Electronic_harassment comes in many forms, the most prominent of which we review in this article:

First: #Hate_speech : It may be difficult to determine the line between “freedom of speech” and “hate speech.” But we can define hate speech as any speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, etc. Therefore, it is important to direct children to the need to respect everyone, regardless of their faction.

Second: #Cyberbullying : Cyberbullying occurs when someone uses #technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. Many children and teenagers who are exposed to cyberbullying often do not tell their parents, teachers or those they trust because they feel ashamed or afraid that their devices will be taken away and prevented from using them.

Third:  #Identity_impersonation:   Theft of a child’s identity occurs when someone takes personal and sensitive information about him and uses it to obtain services or benefits, or to commit fraud. They may also use your child’s Social Security number, name, address, or date of birth.

Fourth:  #Digital_harassment : It includes actions, words, or media that carry sexual connotations. The Internet is a fertile environment for the spread of sexual harassment, because it is linked to the absence of identity, which is one of the most prominent incentives for the spread of this type of harassment.

If your child experiences one of these forms of harassment, here are some tips:

 Try to stay calm

Incidents of #electronic_harassment create negative feelings in parents, including fear and anxiety. But it is important to remain calm, which will help the child regulate his emotions during the crisis. It is important to listen to him and avoid judging or overreacting.

Preserve evidence

Record the details, dates and times of any form of harassment your child experiences. This may include some messages or screenshots, which will be useful to you when reporting to the responsible authorities.

Report 

You can report the incident through the “We Are All Security” application, which is managed by government agencies affiliated with the Cybercrime Department. It is also possible to report via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website via the “Absher” website and go to the Public Security Services, and then choose to report cybercrimes.

Pay attention to the smallest details

Monitor any changes in your child’s mood, sleep, or eating, and make sure to spend time with him and listen to him.

And as always, be a role model for your children. Help them understand the benefits and risks of the digital world. If you are careful to avoid anger and do not use inappropriate words in your posts and responses, it is unlikely that your children will do the same. Talk about correct and acceptable ways to respond and disagree with others.