Kids as young as SIX being trolled online, parents warned
Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorAnd the number of children talking to strangers online has soared, say experts.
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A shock new survey of more than 1,000 parents has found primary school children are increasingly being targeted by strangers online.
According to research from the online safety organisation Internet Matters, almost one in 10 (9.4%) of kids aged between six and 10 had direct experience of contact with strangers in the past year. This was up from just under 6% the year before.
Meanwhile the number of kids who’ve been trolled by strangers has more than DOUBLED in a year, going from 6% to 13%.
And about the same number of kids had seen fake news online.
Ghislaine Bombusa, Head of Digital at Internet Matters, told Netmums:
‘Concerns around cyberbullying and children coming into contact with strangers online are two key issues parents consistently voice to us.
'During lockdown children and young people were forced to use the online world to learn, socialise and stay entertained.
'For some, this meant they were prematurely thrust into the online world with limited preparation to deal with the potential risks and this is reflected in the increased exposure to these issues.’
To help parents manage their children’s online safety, they’ve launched a new Digital Matters platform.
The free platform will also teach kids about cyberbullying, online grooming, peer pressure and keeping their personal information secure.
Ghislaine adds:
‘We created Digital Matters to help children develop their critical thinking skills so they are better prepared to challenge information they see online, speak up if they are at the receiving end of bullying and importantly have the right language to voice concerns with an adult.’
What to do if your child is bullied online
Worried your child is being trolled on social media or on a gaming platform? Follow these useful steps from Internet Matters ...
1. Talk to your child
Pick the right moment to ask your child about what they do online and if someone is bullying them. Always show them you support them and reassure them you'll get through it together.
2. Don't stop them going online
Although it might be tempting to keep your child off their devices this can actually make things worse and leave them feeling isolated.
Instead, if it's someone they know who is bullying them, chat to them about talking directly to the bullies and letting them know how it's making them feel.
3. Don't retaliate
As we all know from our own experience with trolls, responding to their comments only adds fuel to the fire.
Let your child know they can leave conversations if they feel uncomfortable.
It's also a good idea to take screenshots in case they need proof later of the messages they received.
4. Don't deal with it alone
Dealing with online abuse, especially if your child is the target, can feel overwhelming.
Talk to your child's school and find out what their anti-bullying policy is. If it's a stranger trolling your child, block them and report them to the social media or gaming platform.
Are you worried about your child being bullied online? Talk to other parents in our forum, below.
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