Parents more stressed about cyber bullying than their kids consuming drugs or alcohol

PARENTS are more stressed about their children being bullied than about drugs or alcohol.

Telstra Foundation boss Jackie Coates said parents were calling for more help to deal with cyber bullying. Picture: iStock

PARENTS are more stressed about their children being bullied than about drugs or alcohol.

Nine in 10 Australian teenagers, many of whom will ­return to school tomorrow, ­believe cyber bullying is a ­problem for young people, new data has revealed.

Forty per cent of parents are worried about online bullying, compared to just 9 per cent who worry about their kids drinking alcohol and 15 per cent who fear experimentation with drugs.

The national data, from ­Telstra, shows Victorian ­parents are most in the dark on cyber bullying. Fewer than a third said they would know if their child was being bullied online.

The telco has announced $400,000 for anti-cyber bullying campaign Project Rockit to launch a “digital classroom”. It will teach teenagers how to stamp out online abuse.

Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it took just one kid to stand up to bullying to inspire others. “The start of the school year is the perfect opportunity for us to talk with young people about cyber bullying and to take ­action together,” she said.

Telstra Foundation boss Jackie Coates said parents were calling for more help to deal with cyber bullying.