Cyberbullying is causing big problems for today’s teens. More than 43% of teens say they have been cyberbullied, and of those 43%, one in four have had it happen more than once. It is becoming easier for teens to bully each other online with the heavy use of cell phones and social media.

Cyberbullying is when a young person is tormenting, threatening, harassing, or embarrassing another young person using the internet or other technologies. This can be sending cruel text messages or emails, spreading rumors on social media, posting messages about a person that is mean and hurtful, hacking an account and sending messages, or spreading pictures through texts or the internet.

It is more important than ever for parents to be involved with their child’s internet usage and behavior. Talk to your kids about cyberbullying. Find out if they have ever been a victim of cyberbullying or if they may have been the bully. Show your child how cyberbullying has led to suicide, school suspension, a criminal record and even losing friends and piers.

There are legal ramifications if you are caught cyberbullying. If a person is texting, the number and sender can be tracked, and the bully could face criminal charges. Nothing good can come from cyberbullying.

It would be nice is everyone would follow the three R’s: Respect for self, respect for others, and responsibility for all your actions. Stop Cyber Bullying and be kind.