A mean message is bad enough. A mean message that can be screenshotted, shared, and repeated all night long is something else entirely. Cyberbullying doesn’t stop at the school doors, and for many kids it shows up in the one place that should feel safest: alone in their bedroom with a phone. We sit down with our resident expert, Dr. Peter Montminy of A Mindful Village, to break down what cyberbullying really looks like today across social media, texting, and gaming platforms. We talk about why it can feel so inescapable (always-on access, anonymity, permanence), and the real warning signs parents and caregivers can watch for both online and offline, from sudden secrecy with devices to anxiety, sleep changes, mood swings, and pulling away from friends or school. Then we get practical: how to pause and respond without overreacting, how to validate your child’s experience, what evidence to save, when to block and report, and how schools and even law enforcement can be supportive partners when things cross a serious line. We also dig into prevention tools like clear digital boundaries, transparent monitoring, and coaching that builds empathy and better decision-making, including the “grandma rule” for what you send and share. And if you discover your child is the one doing the bullying, we walk through a path that holds them accountable while focusing on learning, repair, and making amends. You’ll also hear simple “upstander” strategies kids can use to break the cycle: direct, delegate, and distract, plus trusted resources like NetSmartz, Common Sense Media, and Stopbullying.gov. If this conversation helps, please subscribe, share it with a parent or educator, and leave a review so more families can find it. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support. This podcast is brought to you by Jana Marie Foundation and A Mindful Village. Jana Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in State College, Pennsylvania which harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations build connections, and promote mental health and wellbeing among young people and their communities. Learn more at Jana Marie Foundation. A Mindful Village is Dr. Peter Montminy's private consulting practice dedicated to improving the mental health of kids and their caregivers. Learn more at A Mindful Village | Holistic Mental Health Care for Kids. Music created by Ken Baxter. (c) 2025. Jana Marie Foundation. All Rights Reserved. This podcast was developed in part under a grant number SM090046 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA, HHS or the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
