Lisa Ford-Berry of Carmichael learned the hard way that no child is immune to how cyberbullying can make individuals feel isolated, insignificant and overexposed. Her son Michael Berry committed suicide on his 17th birthday in September 2008 in response to relentless cyberbullying of which she knew nothing until his tragic death.
“Right up until that morning, he was his jovial self,” Ford-Berry said, “Parents need to understand that the cyber world can allow our children to feel isolated or cut off from even close bonds of family. My son could not bear to share with his family the unchecked harassment and humiliation he was suffering at the hands of his peers.”
She founded B.R.A V.E. Society to promote and inspire an anti-bully culture in our children’s school communities. In addition, Ford-Berry seeks to educate parents who struggle to respond when their child becomes a target of cyberbullying.
She offers the tips below.
- File a report with the police / sheriff (in a lot of cases they won’t or don’t take a report but it is important to try and go on record
- Depending on the type of abuse file a report or speak with the FBI (again they may not actually take a report, but it is important to try and go on record)
- Find out who it is Google, Yahoo, Hotmail etc… and find out what the terms of service are (TOS) and report the violation. The account will be suspended.
- Report the abuse to your internet provider
- Do your homework by getting the ISP address
- File a report with the school your child attends district officials, school board, principal/VP, teacher
- Report the cyberbullying to Wiredsafety.org
- Make sure to make copies of everything.
Parent Resources
- Network Culture Parenting
- Don’t be bullied by the cyber wilderness
- B.R.A.V.E Society
- Sacramento Sheriff
- Placer County Sheriff
(Ref:542-e)
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