Litigation Advisory: Cyberbullying - Talking to Your Children About Responsibly Using Social Networking and Electronic Communications
10/19/2011
By Robert Delahunt, Jr. and Matthew D. Levitt
The leaves are changing and the kids are back in school, with the fall semester now in full swing. In addition to the usual issues concerning parents of school- and college-age students — running the gamut from homework to heartache — parents should be aware of (and talk with their children about) the responsible use of social networking and electronic communications. In this age of aggressive anti-bullying legislation and strict zero tolerance policies, schools are highly alert to bullying concerns. As a consequence of this heightened sensitivity, educational institutions may overreact to any suspected “cyberbullying,” and what once may have been viewed as typical adolescent behavior may now draw unwanted attention from school administrators or possibly even law enforcement.
As the new school year gets underway, now is a good time to discuss this issue with your child. Below are some tips for parents about talking with your children about responsible texting, tweeting, and Facebooking, to help insure you and your child are fully protected.
» Click here to read the full advisory.
