Cyberbullying: What Parents + Teens Need to Know (And How We Can Protect Our Kids)
— 5 min read —
The online world is where our kids learn, play, text, group chat, laugh, and connect with friends.
It’s also where things can get confusing really fast.
Lately, more families in our wellbe community have been talking to us about cyberbullying — things happening in group chats, on FaceTime, and across apps that don’t seem like a “big deal,” but leave kids feeling pressured, embarrassed, or left out.
And I’ve seen it firsthand in my own home.
A quick personal story…
My daughter is 11. Recently, she was invited to join a FaceTime call with a few boys from her class. She didn’t want to join — she didn’t feel comfortable — but the pressure was loud: message after message, “Come on, just join,” “It’s not a big deal,” “Why aren’t you answering?”
She only felt okay joining when her friends agreed to hop on the call with her.
That moment — the push, the discomfort, the fear of being the only one not joining — wasn’t “drama.”
It was digital pressure, and yes, it’s a form of cyberbullying.
This is exactly how these situations show up for kids:
Not always as threats or name-calling, but as subtle social pressure they don’t yet have the skills to navigate.
As Lara Williston, Registered Psychotherapist at wellbe, shares:
“Pre-teen and adolescent years are a time when kids are figuring out who they are and how they fit into their social world. Peer pressure can lead them to ignore their own inner voice in favour of doing things just to feel accepted.”
First, what is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying isn’t only the obvious stuff.
It includes things like:
Pressuring someone to join a call or chat
Excluding them from a group
Sending repeated messages intended to make someone uncomfortable
Sharing inside jokes that target one person
Screenshots, comparisons, put-downs, or “jokes” that cross a line
Online behaviour sticks — screenshots, group chats, notifications — which makes it harder for kids to escape.
Lara adds:
“ The online world is far-reaching and we have little control over what people choose to share. For our tweens and teens, this can feel so big and humiliating to be made fun of in a shared text or post. Pair that with “likes” and seeing evidence of being excluded from private groups, it can feel awful to actually see the number of times you were the target of online meanness. “
How Parents Can Support Their Kids
Here are some ways that help kids feel safer online (and more likely to talk to you).
1. Keep conversations open — not investigative
Ask questions that feel supportive, not snoopy:
“How are things feeling online this week?”
“Any weird or uncomfortable moments?”
“If something ever felt off, who would you talk to?”
Your calm presence = their safety net.
2. Validate their feelings first
Kids shut down if they think they’ll get in trouble — especially with tech.
Start with:
“That sounds really tough.”
“Thanks for telling me.”
“You did the right thing by coming to me.”
Validation helps them regulate before you try problem-solving.
As Lara explains:
“Tweens are still learning to regulate big emotions, even when they seem mature on the outside. They need our steady presence to help them feel less alone in their hurt.”
3. Build a family tech plan together
Kids won’t come to you if honesty = losing their phone.
Create a shared plan (keep it simple):
When phones are off
What apps are allowed
How to handle group chat pressure
When a parent steps in
This builds trust, not fear.
4. Give them real scripts they can use
Kids often know something feels wrong — they just don’t know what to say.
Try:
“I’m not comfortable with this.”
“I’m leaving this call.”
“Let’s not talk about people like that.”
“Please stop messaging me.”
Remind them: setting boundaries isn’t rude. It’s brave.
Lara shares:
“Many people struggle with boundaries because they want to be liked and there is a fear that boundaries will lead to being disliked. Boundaries are simply limits that separate us from what doesn’t feel good to us. It can be really hard for kids to set boundaries because social acceptance is like air. Helping them develop the belief that setting boundaries will be admired by the right people in their circle can help give them the courage to try.”
5. Help them grow their social network
The online world can amplify certain social circles when cyberbullying is taking place. Supporting our tweens and teens in having diverse social networks can help to protect them from the impact of being targeted. Encouraging your child to participate in school clubs, extracurricular activities outside of school, or ongoing sports or hobbies can help them make more connections that support their social well-being.
If your teen is struggling
You’re not alone — and neither are they.
Our wellbe social workers + psychotherapists support teens and families with:
School/social stress
Communication coaching
Online pressure + conflict
Building confidence + emotional regulation
Boundary-setting for digital spaces
This is a safe space.
For you. For your kids. For your family.
👉 To book an appointment with Lara or another mental health practitioner at wellbe, you can click here or reach out to our Client Experience Team anytime.
coming up: free virtual workshop for parents + teens
Cyberbullying: What Parents + Teens Need to Know (And How We Can Protect Our Kids)
📍 online | live + interactive
We’ll dive deeper into:
how cyberbullying actually shows up in real life
how to support kids without overreacting
tools for building confidence and boundaries online
when to step in — and when to step back
This workshop is designed to support real families navigating real digital challenges.
✨ Details + registration coming soon — stay tuned. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all wellbe workshops and events.
You’re doing the best you can in a world that didn’t exist when we were kids. And you don’t have to figure this out alone.
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This blog post was written by wellbe co-founder Dr Aliya Visram. If you or your family are in need of support, you can book an in-person or virtual visit with a member of our mental health team here.