Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Think About

• What types of cyberbullying have you witnessed or heard about?
• What might be the long-term impact of cyberbullying on someone who is victimized over a period of time? 
• Where would you draw the line between incidents that are hurtful but might not raise serious alarms and harassment so serious that a teacher or parent probably ought to be informed? 

Questions to Think About

• How could you help a friend understand that they shouldn't feel defined by the hurtful words or actions of a bully?
• What would you do if you saw that a student was being cyberbullied, but you didn’t really know them? Would you still feel responsible for trying to help?
• What is some other common-sense advice you might give a friend who is being cyberbullied to deal with the situation?

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Think About

• Name an example of bullying in a movie or pop culture, and explain why it does or doesn’t ring true from what you’ve seen
• What age group do you think is most prone to mocking or cyberbullying someone who seems different from them? 
• What are some things students might consider that would make them less likely to engage in cyberbullying?

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Think About

• How is cyberbullying different from other types of bullying?
• What advice would you give a friend who has become the target of persistent taunting and cruelty online?
• What are some ways students can cope with feelings of rejection when they feel left out but aren’t actually being bullied? 

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Start Conversations with Students

• How are things going at school—not just your classes, but how do you like the social life, and who are your favorite people to have lunch or hang out with? 
• Do you communicate with the same kids on social media?
• If you were ever in a difficult situation with the kids you hang out with in person or online and didn’t want to come to me, is there someone else you feel like you could talk to?

Conclusion

Keeping an open dialogue with your kids about their lives—how they’re feeling, what they’re enjoying (or not), and friends who are important to them—is important even if your kids seem annoyed. That’s normal! The important thing is for them to know you care and for them to feel more comfortable coming to you with a problem they’re struggling to handle on their own.

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Start Conversations with Students

• How would you define cyberbullying? 
• Why do you think it might be smart in some cases to report cyberbullying to a teacher, counselor, or administrator anonymously? 
• What hurtful things have you seen students do to other students, even if it might not be “bullying”? 

Conclusion

For victims of cyberbullying, the damages can be devastating. They may internalize the cruel words and harassment targeted at them and believe there is something truly wrong with them. This can lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression, which can become serious. And cyberbullying isn’t just at school—it follows its victims home on social media, so kids can’t escape it.

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Start Conversations with Students

• I’ve noticed that you don’t really seem like yourself lately. Can you think of anything that might be bothering you at school or somewhere else? 
• When I was growing up, I hated when kids bullied other kids, but now they can do it online, too. What kinds of things have you seen online where people are treating another student badly?
• Why do you think students engage in cyberbullying? 

Conclusion

For victims of cyberbullying, the damages can be devastating. They may internalize the cruel words and harassment targeted at them and believe there is something truly wrong with them. This can lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression, which can become serious. And cyberbullying isn’t just at school—it follows its victims home on social media, so kids can’t escape it.

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Start Conversations with Students

• If one of your friends was being cyberbullied, what advice would you give them? 
• When students are being cyberbullied, what can they do to try and get away from it? 
• Who do you think would be the best person at your school to go to if you were worried about someone being cyberbullied? 

Conclusion

For victims of cyberbullying, the damages can be devastating. They may internalize the cruel words and harassment targeted at them and believe there is something truly wrong with them. This can lead to anxiety, insecurity, and depression, which can become serious. And cyberbullying isn’t just at school—it follows its victims home on social media, so kids can’t escape it.

Teachers: View our Educator/Classroom Guide Here

Questions to Start Conversations with Students

• How many apps do you think you use to communicate with or follow people on social media, and which do you use most often? Why?
• What do you like about social media in general? 
• How good do you think your friends are at trying to keep things light and upbeat in their posts? Do you think that matters?

Conclusion

Social media is full of pros and cons, especially for kids. The sooner you initiate an open dialogue with your kids about their choices and experiences on social media, the more likely they are to be open in discussing some of the downsides they might encounter. 

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Stepping into a Victim’s Shoes

• Imagine you're scrolling through your phone and see your friend is being bullied online. How do you think your friend would be feeling?

Friend vs. Fixer

• Why is it important to talk with a friend who’s experiencing unkind treatment online before immediately reporting what you’ve seen to a third party? 

Showing Support

• What are some things you can do or say to let your friend know you’re there for them? 

Sharing Suggestions

• What advice would you give your friend about how to handle cyberbullying? ‍
  

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):‍

‍Taking Action

• If you saw a friend being cyberbullied, how could you help them create a plan to address it (being mindful of the risk of further encouraging the bully to continue)?

Finding the Right Words

• Brainstorm some helpful things you could say to show support to a friend who’s being bullied and encourage them to seek help if needed. 

Serious Signs

• The video talks about the pitfalls of being too fast to intervene if you see someone being bullied, but what are some red flags that would make you want to report your concern immediately to a trusted adult?

Finding Strength

• What are some ways you can help a friend avoid internalizing hurtful things a cyberbully is saying to or about them? 
  

High School Students (dialogue starters):

Friend vs. Advocate: Knowing Your Role

• Sometimes, helping a friend means stepping back. When is it appropriate to take action yourself versus advocating for your friend to seek help from trusted adults or online platforms?

Being an Advocate for Kindness

• How can you take a stand against cyberbullying in a responsible and impactful way?

Avoiding Escalation

• How can outright retaliation against a bully backfire? 

Knowing the Warning Signs

• What are some warning signs you might notice in the victim of ongoing bullying that lead you to report the mistreatment to a trusted adult immediately?

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

What is Cyberbullying?

• How can you tell the difference between bullying and other things that might hurt your feelings but aren’t actually bullying? 

Building Empathy

•  What are some emotions a person might feel if someone online (or at school) repeatedly made fun of their clothes or body or made other insulting comments?

Positive Reinforcement

• One expert in the video explained that showing confidence can discourage bullies. What are 

Knowing Where to Turn

• If you ever experience cyberbullying, who are some adults you would feel comfortable talking to?

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Performing CBR

• The video explained the CBR method—Copy, Block, Report. Why are each of these steps important when dealing with cyberbullying?

Bystander Responsibility

• What are some ways you could help a friend who’s being cyberbullied, even if you’re not directly involved? 

Is It Cyberbullying or Something Else? 

• Can you name some examples of things that might hurt someone’s feelings even though no one meant to “bully” them?  

Why It Matters

• What are the dangers, emotional or otherwise,  of letting a cyberbullying pattern continue? 

High School Students (dialogue starters):

A Prevalent Problem

• How big of a problem would you guess cyberbullying is at our school or in your other peer groups? 

Preventing Cyberbullying

• What are some proactive steps students can take online to make it less likely they’ll become victims of cyberbullying?

Supporting a Friend

• What are some signs of emotional distress that might indicate to you that a classmate is experiencing cyberbullying (or other forms of cruelty)? 

Building a Considerate Culture

• How can we as a school promote positive interactions online and offline to build a culture where bullying is not tolerated? 

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.

Questions for Parents to Consider:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Parents of Elementary School Students (Engagement Questions):

‍Establishing Trust

• What are some things you can do or say to show your child they can confide in you if something online makes them uncomfortable? 

Something Seems Off

• What are some signs that your child might be dealing with an upsetting situation online? 

Time to Step in

• What situations would you consider serious enough that you need to actively intervene? 

Parents of Middle School Students (Engagement Questions):

The Human Touch

• What does the speaker mean when he says the best “app” to monitor your student’s online use and behavior is a trusted adult? 

Growing Opportunities

• As a parent, do you think you could step back if appropriate and support your student in handling a negative online experience on their own? Why might that be the best approach sometimes?

It Takes a Village

• In some cases, your student might prefer to talk to a different adult than a parent about cyberbullying or intimidating behavior online. Who are some other adults you’d feel comfortable being a go-to for your student?

Parents of High School Students (Engagement Questions):

Empowering Students

• Do you believe it’s sometimes best to support your student in addressing a cyberbullying situation on their own? 

Knowing Your Kid

• What are some signs of withdrawal or distress that would cause you to worry your student might be the victim of cyberbullying? 

Cyberbullying Takes Different Forms

• What types of cyberbullying or harassment online concern you most, and what would you do if you knew your child was experiencing it? 

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Why Bullies Bully

• We don’t want to condone bullying behavior, but what are some reasons a person might post hurtful things to or about another person online? 

Kindness Counts

•  Bullying behaviors can happen online or in person. What are some ways we can work as a class or school to promote kindness and try to stop hurtful comments before they start?

Recognizing Bullying

• What are some examples of bullying and/or cyberbullying?

Finding Help

• Who are some adults you might trust to go to if you feel like someone is directing hurtful comments at you? 

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Promoting a Positive Culture

• How can we as a school promote a culture of staying positive and considerate of others online?

Showing Support

• What are some ways you could show a friend who feels like they’re being bullied online that hurtful comments don’t reflect your friend’s value as a person?

Choosing Words Carefully

• What kinds of things could a student say online that hurt someone’s feelings without that being the intention?

Understanding Cyberbullying

• What are some reasons a person might want to mock, threaten or say hurtful things to another student online? 

High School Students (dialogue starters):

Recognizing Hurtful Speech

• Even if it’s not intended to hurt anyone, what are some types of comments that another student might perceive as insulting, offensive, or even a form of bullying? 

Unpacking Cruel Comments

• How can a student who feels put down on social media learn to avoid internalizing negative comments?

The Boomerang Effect

• What are some ways that being cruel to others online could come back to hurt the person making those posts?

Preventing Bullying

• How can you set an example in your own posts and online conversations to show the benefits of staying positive and considerate (while avoiding conflict and drama)? 

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Teachers (Engagement Questions):

Building Trust 

• How can educators and parents create a safe space and encourage students to feel comfortable confiding in us about online issues? 

Promoting Emotional Well-Being

• Teachers have a lot on their plates already, but what are some ways we can promote emotional well-being among students so they’re better able to get through conflicts with peers?

Supporting Peer Helpers

• What would you tell a student who comes to you with concerns about a friend who’s experiencing cyberbullying? 

Middle School Teachers (Engagement Questions):

Handling Reports of Cyberbullying

• What protocols can we implement to ensure all reports of bullying are handled fairly and sensitively? 

Addressing Parents’ Concerns

• How would you respond if a parent reported to you that their child is experiencing cyberbullying by other kids at our school? 

Encouraging Considerate Behavior

• How can we as a school promote a culture of respect for others so kids might be less likely to engage in cyberbullying in the first place? 

High School Teachers (Engagement Questions):

No Easy Fixes?

• How can we navigate student expectations for immediate intervention in the face of cyberbullying while promoting long-term coping mechanisms?

Promoting a Culture of Peer Support

• What strategies can we use to empower students to be allies for a peer facing cyberbullying? 

Bridging the Gap Between Online and Offline 

• The video acknowledges that cyberbullying spills into real-life interactions (and vice versa). How can we as educators and parents encourage students to avoid engaging in hurtful actions or speech whether online or off? 

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.

Questions for Parents and Educators to Consider:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Questions for Parents of Elementary School Students to Consider:

Encouraging Empathy

• How can you talk to your child about the importance of supporting friends who might be experiencing bullying behavior, online or off? 

What to Watch For

• All kids go through struggles at one time or another. What changes in behavior would concern you enough to try and open a dialogue with your student about anything that might be bothering them?

Seeking Advice

• If you’re concerned your child is going through a difficult situation with classmates or other peers, what steps could you take first before trying to get involved?

Questions for Parents of Middle School Students to Consider:

Mentor vs. a Problem Solver

• What are some ways as a parent you can support your child in dealing with cyberbullying other than jumping in to try and solve the problem yourself? 

Fostering Friendship

• How can you encourage your student to be a good friend to a friend or classmate who might be experiencing cyberbullying? 

Finding Support as a Parent

• If you notice troubling changes in your child’s behavior or relationships but they aren’t ready to talk to you about it, who are some people you can reach out to yourself for advice? 

Questions for Parents of High School Students to Consider:

Warning signs

• How can we, as parents, navigate the difference between typical teenage mood swings and potential red flags related to cyberbullying?

Keeping an Open Dialogue

• What are some questions you could ask your student about their use of social media so they know you care—and are available to provide support in case a problem arises—even if they don’t have anything to share at the moment? 

Striking a Balance

• How can parents strike a balance between offering support and letting our teens develop their own coping mechanisms and resilience in the face of online challenges?

Support Services for Students Dealing with Cyberbullying

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
• Stop Bullying Now Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• No Bully Help Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
• LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• What is Swatting? What Parents and Educators Need to Know
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips: What Students & Parents Need to Know
• Identifying Bullying Tactics: 5 Experts Weigh In
• How to Handle Cyberbullying (15 Experts Share Tips for Your Family)

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is impacting the lives of many students today. Recognizing the tactics used by cyberbullies and having a clear understanding of how to support students who are being cyberbullied is crucial. Parents and educators need to keep the lines of communication open with students to support them and help them respond to bullies in a healthy way. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem. It will require vigilance, empathy, and a collective effort to create safer spaces online.