October is National Bullying Awareness Month: Top 10 Signs Your Child is in Danger Online

October is National Bullying Awareness Month and parents are looking for ways to protect their children from cyberbullying, the online pandemic that is causing severe emotional and psychological pain to children across the nation. More and more parents are resorting to the use of computer monitoring software to find out if their child is the victim of cyber bullying (or the actual bully).

Brad Miller, CEO of Awareness Technologies – makers of WebWatcher –  has some great tips for parents to help protect their children from cyberbullies:

• Start by talking with your children about their online activities and the dangers of cyberbullying – set their expectations by discussing your views on monitoring their Internet and smartphone use
• Inform teachers if you suspect your child is being cyberbullied. Teachers are among the first to notice important changes in children’s behavior, and it’s possible the bully may be a classmate. Additionally, many school districts also now use computer monitoring software on all classroom computers – check with your school principal, PTA or school board to ensure these tools are in use at your child’s school

Follow your children’s activity on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking platforms to routinely search what they’re posting and what others are saying about them

• Consider implementing parental monitoring software on your home computers and children’s smartphones

WebWatcher Parent Advisory:

Top 10 Signs Your Child is in Danger Online

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It’s no longer only the school playground where kids are at risk of being bullied.  As children are increasingly getting cellphones and signing onto social networking websites like Facebook at a younger age, the risks of interacting with cyberbullies, online imposters and predators are spiraling out of control. Here are 10 signs that your child may be in danger or involved in risky behavior online.

1.     Suddenly spending an increasing amount of time around the computer, especially at night

2.     Seeming secretive around the computer and cleaning out the history folder all too frequently

3.     Quickly exiting a web page when someone else walks into the room

4.     Asks for meaning of cultural references much older than they are

5.     Emotionally distant or losing interest in friends or other activities they used to enjoy

6.     Is apprehensive when friends are brought up

7.     Has multiple email addresses and IM screen names

8.     You receive phone calls for your child from people you don’t know

9.     Drastic increases in text message bills due to activity with unknown phone numbers

10.  Unknown charges to your credit card from websites that your child may be registered with

For more information and tips for monitoring your child’s activity on the Internet, visit: www.webwatchernow.com