How can my parents help?
Finding out that you are being bullied will be stressful and distressing to your parents. However, some parents may believe that cyber-bullying is less upsetting to you than “physical” bullying because it’s not “real”. Be sure when you talk to adults about what’s happening to you that you express clearly how it makes you feel – that it’s no less “real” to you just because it’s over the phone, and can be even more worrying than a physical confrontation if you can’t identify the source.
- It is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend another person, and almost all malicious calls can now be traced. So the law is on the side of the bullied – and your parents can and should ask schools to help if their children are being bullied.
- If your school doesn’t seem to have rules covering mobilephone use in the grounds that reduce the likelihood of bullying behaviour, ask your parents to request that such rules be implemented.
- If a lack of action continues, and/or if calls are unrelated to school you’re your parents should be ready to consider police involvement.
- If the bullying is on-going, your parents can also contact your phone service provider and see if the calls from certain numbers can be stopped.
- If calls continue, it may be time to consider changing your phone number. If you do change it, make sure you give it only to people you know and trust not to pass it on.
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