Ask an expert: Can you tell me where I can find more information about bullying through phones?
If there is any information you could send me or anyone I could contact about this I would be extremely grateful.
Answered by our panel of experts:
After social networking mobile phone (texting) is the most common form of bullying. However there are things you can do but it really depends what network you are with. Support and help is available and mobile providers take the protection if their customers seriously.
Most if not all of the networks will allow you to change your number or block numbers and are usually very responsive when if you report the abuse to them. They will, if the matters are serious, involve the police.
If you visit the Teachtoday website it gives a list of the numbers that you can call depending on your network and they will guide you in terms of blocking or changing your number. Numbers can also be blocked on the handset.
If a child is subject to such abuse and bullying then they should be reassured that there is something that can be done about it. Informing or involving their parents should be the first step, research shows that children best recover from abuse if supported by their parents and for some children being bullied can have devastating consequences so it is really important that they get the support.
School can play an important role and the child can go to someone at their school, like the child safety officer (designated teacher) and the school working with them and their parents may contact the mobile providers or police on their behalf.
We would encourage parents to talk to their children about bullying as part of an ongoing discussion about the safe and responsible use of technology. Victims of cyberbullying show the same sort of behaviours as those who have been bullied "offline" - withdrawn, quiet, upset.
If you want more information about cyberbullying in general there are a number of useful websites and the charity has just issued some research which looks at this.
If you are a parent and are worried about your teen or child over-sharing online visit the Share Take Care: Ask an expert page to read the advice our panel of experts gave other parents.
Visit the Share Take Care website for more information on help and support for parents.
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