Online Bullying
Often, parents that contact Evangelhouse state that their daughter could actually be addicted to social media. Many more state that their daughter has been bullied online. Why do children engage in improper or bullying conduct online?
Their parents may hold the key to the solution. Some parenting styles may unintentionally encourage violence in children. Parents who don’t prioritize their children’s social lives or who don’t foster strong interpersonal bonds may unknowingly be contributing to the troubling online behavior of their children.
Some parents who obsess about their children’s popularity or social standing or who themselves strive to “keep up with the Joneses” may be instilling in their kids a feeling of social competitiveness. Children may value social climbing if their parents do. Teenage girls who choose popularity above genuine friendship may develop an unhealthy feeling of competitiveness as a result.
That may lead to internet hostility. For instance, girls who place a high value on popularity may spread false information about other girls online in an effort to undermine them and gain more “likes” and followers on social media.
A teenage girl’s interactions with adults might influence how they behave online. Teenagers that engage in cyberbullying often have poor quality, imbalanced, and transient friendships. According to researchers, more than half of the friends that children list when asked to pick their top five or ten friends do not share the same sentiments. Additionally, teen girls experience significant rates of friendship turnover in time spans as little as six months or even two weeks. According to research, children who have strong, healthy friendships are more likely to refrain from negative behaviors like bullying and drug and alcohol usage.
Teen girls who prioritize popularity may be less likely to form wholesome connections. Parents who emphasize social climbing may also put less emphasis on teaching their kids to discern between a trustworthy friend and a flaky one. Parents need to educate kids on how to recognize a good friend, how to be a good friend, and why they should expect good conduct from potential friends in order to stop hostile behavior both in person and online.
It’s also a good idea if parents get to know the friends of their children. Parents may get a sense of the kind of interactions their children have by learning early on the kinds of individuals they are interacting with.
Parents should monitor their kids’ social media use. Demanding shared passwords is appropriate given that the parent frequently pays for the teen’s telephone and Internet usage. Parents don’t always feel compelled to keep an eye on their children’s social media use. They don’t watch their children harshly or at all because they don’t display aggressive conduct. But all parents ought to make it a top priority.
At Evangelhouse, we can help your daughter learn what makes a good friend and how to be a good friend in return. Our focus on values helps girls to associate with others that share their concerns, interests, and priorities. Our girls learn that by surrounding themselves with positivity, you attract positive people in your life and have more positive interactions. Additionally, you become more resilient to bullies- an inevitable part of life today.
