Today sees the first day of Anti-bullying week (13th-19th November).
I have had the pleasure of working with Internet Matters on all aspects of keeping our children safe while they're online.
They are passionate about keeping children safe while online. A not-for-profit organisation that has a vast amount of resources to help parents make their children's online lives fulfilling, fun and safe. And they have lots of advice on Anti-bullying week.
Cyberbullying really worries me.
This online world is still relatively new. And I think it's the biggest generational gap ever between parents and their children.
In most other aspects of our lives, as parents we can say we've been there.
Going through teenage years, finding new friends, falling out with friends and most of the pressures that come with puberty, we can say we've been there.
But this is a whole new ball game.
We haven't been there.
When I was at school, I was one of the few lucky ones, I wasn't bullied, nor did I bully anyone.
I always tried to get on with everyone (and still do to this day), but obviously there were occasions when I fell out with friends.
The bullies at school would make other children's lives hell, name calling, embarrassing them and even fighting in the playground.
The difference from then until now, is that back in the day, that bullying stopped at the school gates.
When you went home from school, you were in the safety of your own home. When you closed that front door, you knew no one from school could bully you.
Fast forward to many years later and with the introduction of smart phones, kids can now be bullied 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As a mum of a teenage daughter, this fills me with dread.
She tells me 'It's not the same as when you were a kid'. And she's right.
How can I as a parent help her when I've never been through it?
This is where internet matters has helped me massively.
I love the Internet and social media. I have learned lots of new skills and gained new friends just from the little screen I hold in my hands.
My iPhone is never far away from the end of my fingertips.
The way I use my phone it completely different to my daughter. She prefers Snapchat as a way to contact her friends. I use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter but I use them when I have been somewhere with my family, or have something special to announce.
My daughter and her friends use it as a way of communication - every single day. Through Snapchat or Facetime, they are in contact all the time. And the speed at which she navigates through her phone is mind-boggling!
Internet Matters have age appropriate advice for parents on ways of talking with your children about all aspects of their digital life, being responsible and talking to them about their online reputation.
Obviously my parents didn't talk to me about these things, because they didn't exist! My husband and I are both learning along with our daughter about this new digital world - new to us, but normal to her.
For more help and advice please visit Internet Matters.
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