By Caroline Knorr, commonsensemedia.org

Too much texting, too much calling—could your niece or nephew be targeted for digital harassment? Are they at risk?

-76% of people ages 14-24 say that digital abuse is a serious problem.

-Compared to 2009, young people in 2011 were significantly more likely to step in if they saw someone "being mean online."

-Some of the most frequent forms of digital harassment include people writing things online that aren't true (26%), people writing things online that are mean (24%), and someone forwarding an IM or message that was intended to stay private (20%).

-Digital abuse isn't generally the act of strangers—perpetrators are usually people the victims know well.

(All of the above are from the 2011 AP-MTV Digital Abuse study.)

What Is Digital Harassment?
Digital harassment is when kids and teens use cell phones, social networks, and other communications devices to bully, threaten, and aggressively badger someone. While it's a form of cyberbullying, "digital harassment" is a bit different because it usually takes place between two people in a romantic relationship.

Certainly, lots of young people conduct healthy relationships and use their online and mobile lives to stay connected to each other. But not all relationships are balanced—especially with teens, whose emotional lives run at peak speeds.

Some relationships can become manipulative and controlling, and teens use the digital devices at their disposal to act out. A few texts a day can turn into a few hundred. Relentless and unreasonable demands escalate. The abuser presses for things like the other person's passwords (so they can check up on them) and sexy photos and forces their significant other to unfriend people whom the abuser doesn't like. They may spread lies, impersonate someone, or even resort to blackmail.

Why It Matters
Digital harassment has real consequences for those who've been targeted. A 2011 poll conducted by MTV and the Associated Press found that targets of this kind of abuse are more likely to consider dropping out of school, engage in risky behavior, and even think about suicide.

However, there's a bright spot in all this. The survey also found that kids and teens that discover digital harassment among their friends are now more likely to intervene if they see someone being mean online than they were in 2009.

Large public-awareness campaigns—most notably MTV's A Thin Line and The Family Violence Prevention Fund's That's Not Cool—are helping teens recognize when staying connected crosses the line into digital harassment. These campaigns use kids' idols—like Justin Bieber—and entertaining videos to give teens the language they need to identify and end digital harassment.

Aunties can support their teenage nieces and nephews by understanding that relationships these days are often played out both online and in public—and kids need guidance in establishing appropriate boundaries for healthy relationships. Young love is complicated enough without the added pressure of constant access and public scrutiny. The tips below can help you help the kids in your life navigate these murky waters, so they can avoid digital drama for themselves and their friends.

Advice for Aunties
If you suspect your niece or nephew is being harassed:

Start a discussion. Your teen niece or nephew may not tell you if harassment is happening directly to him or her. But you can bring it up when you talk about online safety and responsible behavior. Tell kids about resources like That's Not Cool and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

Let them know you're always there for them. Remind teens often that you're always available to talk to. While you're at it, put in a plug for the school counselor, a teacher, or even a friend's parent—knowing that they have a trusted adult to talk to may encourage teens to open up.

Help them set boundaries. Tell teens never to do anything that's outside their comfort zone—like sharing passwords or sending sexual photos. (It never hurts to reiterate that anything you send can travel far and wide.) Talk about the pressure to broadcast. Kids in abusive relationships are often coerced into sending scantily clad or naked pictures to "prove" their love. If this happens to your niece or nephew, that's a big red flag. Talk about what's private. Explain to them the consequences of posting or sending intimate stuff. It can be copied, forwarded, and sent to thousands of kids in an instant.

If you suspect your nieces or nephews may be harassing someone:

Check up on them. Check their Facebook pages and cell phones to see what kind of messages they’re sending—and whether anyone is telling them to back off.

Help your niece or nephew. Find a counselor or an organization that's equipped to help. (See resources at right.)

Teach kids to be upstanders, not bystanders. If teens see their friends getting harassed, they should report it to a teacher, a counselor, or another responsible, trustworthy adult.

Photo: Ambro
Published: October 1, 2012