TikTok: TikTok provides private accounts; customizations for For You Pages, messages, and who can Duet or Stitch videos; comment control; filtering comments and keywords; and reporting. Instagram: Instagram provides tag and mention controls, a space to report users or content, the ability to block users, and the ability to limit or restrict users from interacting with the victim. Instagram also includes a comment warning feature, which flags potentially offensive comments before they are posted, reminding the commenter of Instagram’s Community Guidelines and warning them that if they proceed, their comment may be removed or hidden. Facebook (Meta): Facebook and Instagram are Meta Platforms, so they share similar features when keeping teens safe on social media, including blocking and reporting bullying. Meta employs teams that review reports of bullying and harassment 24/7, in more than 50 different languages. However, they also utilize technology in order to find and remove inappropriate content, often before it even gets reported on. Snapchat: Snapchat allows users to block others and report bullying. The company has also partnered with the Crisis Text Line to
safe school plan and conduct and discipline code in place. The policy must include the differences between conflict and bullying and harassment and bullying. The policy must also clarify the role of cyberbullying during online instruction. According to the Colorado Department of Education, bullying may be reported orally or in writing to an administrator, teacher, or other staff member by filling out a bullying report form. Reports can also be received from Safe2Tell, and they can be submitted anonymously. The bullying report form includes infor- mation related to the incident, including whether or not there were witnesses, and the form even asks if the person submitting the report is comfortable with the witnesses being questioned. Once a report has been made, an administrator is assigned and an investigation begins. On Social Media While there are many benefits to using and creating with social media, those same platforms can be used for cyberbullying. Knowing this, popular platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have imple- mented processes to protect the younger generation. Here are some of the precau- tions the most popular apps and forums are taking to prevent bullying.
provide additional support and resources to Snapchatters. Users can text KIND to 741741 to chat with a live, trained crisis counselor. This service is free and available 24/7. Discord: Discord’s Community Guidelines are similar to other social media platforms. Some of the guidelines state that users are not allowed to send unwelcome or unwant- ed content to an individual, call for the sui- cide or self-harm of others, or post content with the intent to cause disgust, anger, or fear. Those who disobey the guidelines, Discord will take action against the accounts. Users who see the policies being disobeyed are encouraged to report the guilty users and content. The majority of the apps that teens are using have strict community guidelines in place. However, a good rule of thumb is that if teens are using any apps without safety measures or anti-bullying policies in place, that is probably not an app they should be using. Unfortunately, even with the best-laid plans and safety measures in place, bullies can slip through the cracks and still cause others harm. Preventing cyberbullying and protecting our children is still a work in pro- gress, but work we should consistently do until cyberbullying is no longer trending.
OCTOBER 2024 COLORADOPARENT.COM 23
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease