Malicious Messages: How to Handle Mobile Bullying

It is an unavoidable fact of life that we are surrounded by smartphones and mobile devices constantly throughout the day. And it’s a sad fact of life that some people choose to use those devices to bully and harass other people.

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Whether people with bad intentions call or text message, they are wrong for harassing others and should be stopped. But if you or someone you know is being bullied over the phone, do you know how to stop it? There are several things you should do to make sure that the person responsible stops and is held accountable. Thousands of people are bullied or harassed over the phone every day, so here are some things you and others can do to stop it and prevent it from happening in the future.

For Parents

One of the first steps in stopping bullying is to know what bullying is. For parents, this can be a tough subject to broach with kids, but it is necessary that you talk with your children and let them know what bullying is and what to do if it happens to them.

First, encourage them to report it bullying to you or another trusted adult. They may not understand that bullying can happen over the phone, so let them know that constant harassment by classmates or anyone else they know through texts or phone calls is not acceptable and should be reported immediately.

As a parent, you should stay informed about your child’s life every day. Even if it seems they don’t want to talk, they will be happier and feel safer coming to you about bullying if they know you take an interest in their everyday lives.

You can learn more about talking to your kids about bullying here.

For Kids

No child should be frightened to go to school or answer a phone call or text on their phone because of the possibility of bullying.

The first thing children should understand is that bullying is not their fault. Bullies choose to pick on people because of the way they feel about themselves, not because of the way a child looks or the things they may like. Bullying behavior is unacceptable — whether it’s in person or on the phone — so you need to tell someone you trust as soon as it happens.

What You Can Do to Stop Bullying

If your child is being bullied over the phone, make sure that you save all of the text messages they send so that you have evidence once you report it. If they only call, you can download this free call recorder app for Android that will record everything they say.

If you want, you can try to talk to the parents of the bully and see if they will help stop it. Most people will be horrified at the prospect of their child being a bully and put an end to it as best they can. If the problem persists, you may need to contact the authorities.

Don’t let bullying over the phone hurt your children. Report it as soon as you know about it.

Emma Wallis works with a charity to offer support and practical advice for people who are being harassed and/or bullied. Her informative articles appear all over the web as she offers up Must Do’s and practical advice along with emotional support.