One In Five Kids A Victim Of Cyber Bullies

One In Five Kids A Victim Of Cyber Bullies . One in five children has been targeted by cyberbullying.Children are being taunted, threatened and insulted via the internet and their mobile phones, according to the poll by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA).

Parents are being urged to supervise their children's internet access after the study revealed 20.5% of 10 and 11-year-olds had been subjected to abuse.

More than a fifth (22%) said they did not know how to protect themselves against cyber bullies.

Tips On Cyberbullying From ABA

1. Know which websites your children are visiting and help them find the "report abuse" and "block sender" options.
2. Make sure your child "acts thoughtfully" online, and understands that images and messages posted online stay there and that mobile phone texts can be forwarded.
3. Tell your child not to reply to unpleasant messages and to keep any evidence.
4. Tell children never to give out personal details and to protect internet passwords.
5. Anyone who is being bullied should tell an adult they trust

And six in 10 (61%) said they thought a good way to stop cyberbullying would be for parents to know how to deal with it.

The survey reveals two-fifths (40%) of the more than 200 10 and 11-year-olds surveyed said they used social networking sites "sometimes".

Almost a fifth (19%) said they used them "a lot", despite many sites specifying that users should be over 13.

The figures were released to mark the start of National Anti-Bullying Week.

A second survey of more than 1,000 parents found that almost a quarter (23%) said they had, or would, allow their child of 10 or under to have unsupervised web access.

It is crucial that we ensure they know how to stay safe online, and that their parents know how to help them. Clearly more research is needed on this emerging issue.

Christopher Cloke, ABA chair

The ABA recommended that parents know which websites their children visit, and help them find the "report abuse" and "block sender" options.

ABA chair Christopher Cloke said: "Parents and schools need to be aware that cyberbullying is affecting younger age groups as more children get mobile phones and have computer access.

"It's crucial that we ensure they know how to stay safe online, and that their parents know how to help them. Clearly more research is needed on this emerging issue."

The ABA advice came as Victims' Champion Sara Payne said parents should snoop on their children's internet use to protect them from paedophiles.

She called for adults to install monitoring software on computers used by youngsters and admitted she checked up on her own children.

The ABA Stay Safe in Cyberspace report questioned 227 10 and 11-year-olds in October, and a BMRB (British Market Research Bureau) poll questioned 1,163 parents of children aged eight to 14 in England during October. ( sky.com )