In recent years, the internet has proved to be a dark place. From cybersecurity threats, hacking attempts, to virtual stalkers becoming real – it is not a safe space anymore. Similarly, acoso cibernético (cyberbullying) is yet another way in which it can harm us.

The fact about cyberbullying is that it mostly targets kids and teens. Who, unfortunately, are most emotionally vulnerable. It can either break them emotionally or force them to act in a way unlike themselves.

No wonder Adolescence on Netflix scared so many of us. It showed how cyberbullying on social media can negatively impact a child’s self-esteem, mental health, and isolate them from everyone. However, the good thing is that most social media platforms like Instagram have rolled out features to mitigate cyberbullying and hateful comments. But it doesn’t end here. Kids and people easily find a way around these features and policies.

As a parent and coming from a minority, it is natural to preocuparse (worry) about our children’s well-being. I was once in your boat, too, worried that my kids would get bullied for being Hispanic. That was until I took some measures to decrease the chances of my niños (children) being bullied online. I am sharing them below, so you can save your children from being cyberbullied too.

1. Talk to Them

The first step is talking to your children and helping them identify cyberbullying. An open communication channel will let them know that you are there for them, no matter what. They will know they are not alone, which is one purpose of cyberbullying.

Then, you should also educate them on acoso cibernético (cyberbullying) and encourage them not to reply to any cyberbullying. Plus, they should also know not to engage with strangers in fruitless debates, as this can also lead to someone bullying them.

2. Monitor Their Online Activity

Sometimes, children end up on sites not meant for them. This makes them interact with adultos (adults), some of whom are trolls or cyberbullies. These people have no life of their own and will bully anyone or everyone they can.

Since you cannot stop bullies online, you need to start monitoring your child’s online activities. See which websites and platforms they frequent. If you see them visiting a website they are not meant to, or a website with a largely adult audience, take action. You can escucha (monitor) them using a parenting application that allows you to deeply monitor their online activities. Or you can do this by becoming a part of their online world, i.e., getting yourself added to their socials to silently observe their activities.

3. Limit their Online Activity

Another tip I have for you is to limit their online activity. This is because spending too much time online already makes them more prone to mental and emotional disorders. So, if they end up getting cyberbullied, they are more likely to be extremely affected. This is why I recommend limiting their online activity.

For that, you can take your internet provider’s ayuda (help). Most internet providers provide parental control features in their apps. Like Spectrum Internet provides parental control features in its Spectrum Security Suite. You can use them to set internet usage limits, block specific websites, and even monitor their online activities. Plus, the customer service for Spectrum en español is always available to guide you further. Using the parental control feature, you can limit your children’s online interactions and protect them from cyberbullies.

4. Report Cyberbullying

Despite your trying, if your child still ends up getting cyberbullied, you need to report it as soon as possible. This is because silence enables bullies. You can report the cyberbully to their padres (parents) (if you know them), or report their post or comments to the platform. Moreover, you can encourage your kid to block the bully right away to further prevent any interaction.

However, if reporting does not do anything, you can take the help of third-party apps like Bully Busters, Bark, or Securly. These serve a variety of purposes, from online monitoring and conflict resolution to anonymous reporting. Lastly, when you go to report a cyberbullying incident, you need to help your child properly document everything. This will make reporting easier.

5. Find a Community

Finding an online community of parents is also a great way to save your child from online bullying. You can interact with parents to learn what steps they take to save their children from cyberbullying. You are likely to find some great resources or even legal counseling on what to do in such cases. You can find these communities on Facebook or Reddit.

Acoso cibernético (cyberbullying) is a serious thing. We should not ignore it and develop a relationship of trust with our children, so they can reach out to us. Lastly, it is important to stay informed about the latest government bills and policies regarding cyberbullying, so you can take action.