AMTA’s tips to assist the young victims of cyber bullying and their parents have been sent to 10,000 public and private schools across Australia as part of the new partnership with the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO), the peak national organisation representing the interests of the parents, families and school communities of more than two million children attending government schools throughout Australia.

ACSSO’s Education Digest newsletter said that mobile phones can offer comfort for parents who want to stay in touch with their children, secure in the knowledge they can be contacted in an emergency.

A recent survey found that carrying a mobile phone made 75% of people feel more secure, However, as with all technology, it can be abused and misused. In the wrong hands, mobiles can be used to bully people by making nasty calls, sending threatening text messages or taking and sharing humiliating images.

Bullying is not acceptable and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), the peak industry body for the mobile telecommunications industry, has formed a partnership with ACSSO to assist parents promote their children’s safe and responsible use of mobile phones.

Our organizations are committed to assist parents with practical information so they can be more aware of cyber bullying and monitor and manage their children’s use of mobile phones. This will help parents be active partners in supporting schools’ management of responsible mobile phone use.

AMTA has developed practical tips for parents and their children to help prevent cyber bullying. The tips, “What you need to know to get the bullies off your back”, also inform parents on what they can do if their children are the victims of bullies and who they can turn to for help.

Children may be experts with mobile phone technology, however, they do not have the maturity or experience to deal with cyber bullying. It is important that parents talk with their children and encourage them to talk about cyber bullying.

AMTA’s tips to help people deal with cyber bullying can be found at www.amta.org.au