Ways parents can protect their kids from online risks

Imagine someone has taken a picture of your child without them knowing and posted it online. Or posted negative comments about them on social media simply for having played a bad game. And imagine if messages like these went viral across their school, neighborhood or, for that matter, the country or world.

This is what cyberbullying can look like. It’s a hurtful act that affects many teenagers yet often is ignored or disregarded. According to research cited in the Cyberbullying Parent Guide, a resource from UScellular partner, nonprofit Screen Sanity: 

59 percent of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online.

Only about a third of kids who are being bullied will ask an adult for help.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and UScellular is taking the opportunity to raise awareness and, more importantly, equip parents with tools and resources they can use to help safeguard their kids against online risks. 

Cyberbullying is described as the willful, repeated harm inflicted on others in online spaces — from texts and social media, to chat rooms, to YouTube, and game sites or devices. 

It can be as overt as the scenarios described above, and it can be more insidious. Teens may text gossip or lies about someone or create fake accounts and profiles of them. Because cyberbullies can disguise themselves and remain anonymous, victims may not know who’s targeting them or why. 

The good news is that the majority of parents have regular conversations with their kids about what they see online or on social media, according to UScellular’s Consumer Interactions & Perspectives Report:

83 percent are concerned about what their kids may be exposed to while online.

82 percent know which social media apps their kids use.

76 percent have regular conversations with their kids about what they see online.

72 percent say their kids talk to them about what they see online or on social media.

Still, when it comes to cyberbullying, it’s important to encourage open dialogue and use available tools. Here are a few tips to help parents get started: 

1.  Have an open conversation

Screen Sanity’s Cyberbullying Parent Guide suggests using any opportunity to naturally bring up the topic, such as a school assembly, something you see on your own feed, or something you’re watching on TV. Here are some questions to help get you started: 

What kinds of bullying have you witnessed? 

How did it make you feel? 

Did you feel like you could do anything to stop it from happening? 

Have you ever been bullied? If so, did you tell anyone? Why or why not? 

Do you feel like you could talk to me if you are bullied? How do you think I will react? 

2.  Make the most of online tools

Parental control apps can be a parent’s best friend in helping keep their child safe online. The Bark app offers a variety of customizable options to help parents, including content monitoring (texts, emails, social media, etc.), screen time management, app and website blocking, and location sharing. UScellular customers can get the first month for free with the code, USCCARES.

3. Take the pledge 

UScellular and Screen Sanity’s Smarter Start Toolkit includes a Parent & Child Agreement/Pledge that you and your child can sign to help you have open conversations with one another about your devices. It can be customized to help ensure that families are having conversations about online safety and what works best for them.

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has donated more than $23 million in hotspots and service to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.