We were very surprised at this result. More boys than girls are being bullied on social media over their body image.

A new poll has found one in five children, aged nine to 16 have, been the victim of bullies online, according to a study carried out by Internet Matters, reports Daily Mail.

The charity interviewed parents about safety online and of the 2,000 who took part, 17.4 per cent said their son had been bullied online over body image compared to 15.7 per cent who said their daughters were victims.

The findings showed the average age image bullying started at was 11.

But the worrying figures have been called ‘the tip of the iceberg’.

Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos told The Sunday Mirror: ‘Sometimes children don’t want to talk about what’s happening to them online.

‘They may worry parents will take away their phones or ban them from using tech. It’s vital parents learn how to engage with their children in a positive way.’

Internet Matters has launched a campaign, #Pledge2Talk, to urge parents to get their children to talk.

There are conversation guides for parents on internetmatters.org.

Encourage kids to talk!

Constance Hall shared a post yesterday that spoke VOLUMES to me as a mum. I think it is definitely one all parents need to read and share.

She wrote, “A couple of weeks ago a child therapist that I know looked at my kids and said,

“You’re such a good mum.”

Feeling like a total fraud I blurted, “I don’t feel like a good mum. The kids are driving me so crazy, I’m losing my temper and falling asleep at night wondering where I’m going got get the patients for another day.”

The therapists reply to Constance is something we all need to hear.

“Babies cry, it’s how they communicate. Toddlers scream, children whinge and teenagers complain.
Then mums say the words ‘for fuck sake under their breath before responding. It’s how we communicate.

But guess what Con? It’s better then silence.

A house full of screaming kids and fighting teenagers and a parent who’s being thrown every question and request is a healthy one to me.

It’s the silent children, the scared toddlers, the teenagers that don’t come home and the parents who aren’t in communication with their children that I worry about.

And kids don’t drive you crazy, you were crazy already. That’s why you had them.”

It’s the silent children we need to worry about.  Remember that.

Encourage your kids to talk. Sometimes it can take some digging, nagging, bribing even with a teenager. Take them out for a milkshake, a walk, watch a movie together and let the conversation flow. If they know you are willing to hear them no matter what – then you are on the right track.

Never shut them down or make them feel like their voice doesn’t matter. #Pledge2Talk

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