Is your teen being labelled a 'slut'?

The internet can be a scary place and cyber-bullying is not an uncommon occurrence. It may come in different forms but the end result is the same. Whether it's calling your teen a slut or constantly hounding your son on Facebook, cyber-bullying can have serious results.

Recently a teen in Durban attempted suicide by drinking detergents and petrol after being put on a slut list that was doing the rounds on Facebook and BBM. Previously a slut list (that contained the girls' addresses and telephone numbers) which was doing the rounds on Mxit ended in a court case.

"What is a slut list?"

If you're wondering, a slut list is a text message, Facebook message, Mxit message or BBM that lists the names of girls that are considered "easy" or "willing". Often these lists have a wide reach and the aforementioned girls are contacted by strangers.

"What can I do?"

To help your teen deal with cyber-bullying, here are a few tips:

• Learn about the bullying your child is suffering from before real damage is done.

• Encourage your teen to develop their own moral code so they'll know when they are being bullied.

• Talk to your child about responsible internet use.

• Watch out for signs that your child is being bullied. Reluctance to use the computer, their cell phone or go to school may be an indication.

• If the bully is a learner at your child’s school, meet with school officials and ask for help in resolving the situation.

• Report any incident of online harassment and physical threat to your local police station and your Internet Service Provider.

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Do you consider cyber-bullying and 'slut lists' to be serious?