Sexual cyberbullying is a growing concern among young people and their parents. So what is sexual cyberbullying? Researchers define it as “any sexually aggressive or coercive behavior via the use of electronic media such as text messages or social networking sites”. This can be someone threatening to send your nude pictures to classmates or posting screenshots of private messages on social media. Due to the newness of this research, many studies focus primarily on sexual cyberbullying in adults. This phenomenon makes the youth even more vulnerable in a world growing more and more connected via technology. Cyberbullying is unique in that it can reach the victim at any time and place.

Starting a conversation about sexual cyberbullying can be daunting for parents, but it is a vital discussion to have before allowing your children to use the internet with or without supervision. Experts suggest teaching your children to equate in-person bullying to cyberbullying to prevent dismissal of poor behavior. The first thing to share with your young person is that nothing sent online or over their phone is private – once it leaves their device, it can end up anywhere, even on “safe” apps. Make sure your youth know not to take or share nude photos, ever.

Current Alabama laws have strict guidelines on the possession and distribution of child pornography. Even consensual sending of images or videos between minors (individuals seventeen and younger) can result in the addition of your name on the community notification list (Sexual Offender Registration) which restricts your mobility, freedom, and potential job options. This list is publicly available so anyone can access it. Harsher penalties such as federal prosecution can happen depending on the type (videos carry greater penalties) and volume of the materials.

There are a few ways to spot unsafe situations before they escalate. For parents, have genuine conversations with your child to build trust and understand their interests. Ask your child about any new friends that they mention in passing. Where did they meet? With your child’s agreement, supervise a conversation or speak with their online friends briefly to identify if they are using any unusual or age inappropriate language.    

Supervise your child’s internet usage by checking what sites they visit and for how long. Check parenting blogs such as NSPCC and The Tech-Savvy Parent Blog to keep up to date on internet trends and lingo. Add parental controls to screen for inappropriate content and messages from people not on their friend list. There are sensitive content warnings that can be added to Apple devices to screen incoming and outgoing photos or videos for nudity. For outgoing content, the sender is given guidance with the potential consequences of sending sensitive photos and videos. 

If your child is already being bullied online there are steps to remedy the issue. Experts stress to refrain from responding to threats with your own and other risky behaviors. Further, keep records of any harassing messages, calls, or photos. If this is someone your child knows from school, work with their parents and administration in order to reach a solution. Do not further isolate your child by removing access to technology, but rather improve security settings and their relationship with the internet.     

In conclusion, prevent unsafe situations by being careful with whom you and your child share information with online. Work with your parents to establish safe online habits and ask for help if you feel uncertain about an online acquaintance. Parents remain vigilant by talking to your children about their favorite websites/apps, setting up security settings, and monitoring unfamiliar contacts. 

References:

• Sexual cyberbullying: Review, critique, & future directions by Anandi C. Ehman & Alan M. Gross
• Cyberbullying and Sexual Harassment: FAQs About Cyberbullying and Title IX by The National Women’s Law Center
• From cyberbullying to sharing nudes: what parents want to know by NSPCC
• Helping You to Help Yourself by Joel Sogol, a Tuscaloosa Child Pornography Lawyer

Photo by Eren Li: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ethnic-male-teenager-using-tablet-and-listening-to-music-in-headphones-at-home-7241298/