ALMOST eight out of 10 young people admit to being bullied online or at least seeing someone else being bullied – and many parents and carers may be completely unaware of it.
A survey conducted by Worcestershire’s Children and Young People’s Plan showed that parents and carers were concerned about cyberbullying and were unsure how to be aware of it.
A total of 79 per cent of young people asked by Bullying UK have seen someone harassed or bullied online.
As a result of this, West Mercia Police, Parents Voice Worcestershire and Worcestershire County Council have partnered to help educated parents and children in Worcestershire about cyberbullying.
The events at the Hive in Worcester are part of the #BeCyberSmart campaign against cyberbullying and online harassment on people are invited to come along on January 20 from 10am until 1pm, and on February 7, from 1pm to 5pm.
There will be talks and advice from West Mercia Police and Community Safety Team and resources for parents and teachers to help keep children safe in the online world and on electronic devices or smartphones.
Councillor Andy Roberts, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families said: “Ensuring children are safe from harm is one of the council’s key priorities.
“Cyberbullying is a big concern for young people, so these events are there to raise awareness and support parents, carers and young people in spotting it and protecting themselves.”
Edd Williams, Chief Inspector at West Mercia Police, said: “We all know that the internet can be an excellent place to learn, work and socialise, but it’s important to make sure it’s also a safe place for people of all ages.
“These free events offer people a really useful opportunity to talk about internet safety, and to ask questions in a relaxed, informal environment.”
