By Sue Hubbard, M.D | The Kid’s Doctor
February 12, 2013|
While bullying has always been a problem encountered during childhood and adolescence, we all know it’s on the rise. When a child is intentionally and repeatedly mean to another child, the cycle begins. Bullying occurs on the playground, at lunch in the cafeteria, in locker rooms, even over the phone. And now that so many children have access to the latest technology, the problem has become even more prevalent.
Enter the newest form — cyberbullying — whereby children and teens deliberately use digital media to disseminate false, embarrassing, or just plain mean messages or pictures about one person to others. Cyberbullying can occur via text, email, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlets. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls cyberbullying “the most common online risk for all teens.”
Studies have shown that between 25 percent to 45 percent of teens report being bullied online. Many kids report such treatment having occurred more than once. Cyberbullying is affecting all ages, as even young children often have access to technology and the Internet.
Children of all ages need to understand that the Internet is not a “safe” place, and that it’s a public forum. Even if you delete a message or photo, it actually continues to exist in cyberspace. Also, many teens mistakenly think they won’t “get caught” if they bully someone online, or that such behavior is “not that big a deal.”
All parents need to discuss Internet safety and the problem of cyberbullying with their children. This is especially important for tweens and teens, as they spend much of their time online. Just as kids must learn and practice good manners in public, they also need to mind their manners online. If a child wouldn’t say something to another young person’s face, then the same dig should not be emailed or texted. It’s really as simple as that.
This is what I call the “front door rule”: Tell your child that if he/she writes an email or text, or posts something derogatory about another person on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (or other sites), to think before they push “send.” If they wouldn’t want to post the information on their front door for family members and all the neighbors to see, they should stop, think and change — or forget about — the message. It could hurt someone more than they realize and could also be forwarded on to hundreds, thousands, even millions of others.
There was something to be said for conversations that were limited to face-to-face encounters and telephones made for nothing more than talking!
About Dr. Sue Hubbard
After graduating from UT with a degree in Biology (with Honors) she moved to Houston to attend The University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School where she graduated with honors and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha honors medical fraternity. Dr. Hubbard did her pediatric internship at the University of Texas Galveston and then completed her residency at U.T. Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Upon completion of her residency she joined Pediatric Associates of Dallas where she was the first female doctor in the group and has continued to practice there for the past 20 years.
From 1997 to 2002, Dr. Sue was a regular contributor to WFAA-TV (ABC) show “Good Morning Texas”. She has been named “Best Pediatrician” in Dallas by D Magazine and has also been listed in Texas Monthly as a Super Doctor. Dr. Sue has also been awarded the Katherine Ripley Award for Electronic Media and is a member of American Women in Radio and Television. She has been interviewed by numerous magazines including Parents, Woman’s Day and Real Simple.
Dr. Sue’s nationally syndicated newspaper column “The Kid’s Doctor” is distributed by Tribune Media Services and appears in The Dallas Morning News Briefing, The Toronto Sun, The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Sentinel, and The Province just to name a few.
She has been married to husband Lee for 31 years and has three boys that have been the joy of her life. They are now ages 28, 24 and 21 and continue to educate her, in her role as a parent and pediatrician. The learning never ends!!