Daughter was cyberbullied

Dear Annie: My 14-year-old daughter is on a social media site with her friends. She was at a birthday party and apparently all sorts of photos were taken. One of the girls posted a picture and purposefully cropped her face out of the photo, with some type of hashtag about my daughter being a nerd and no one wanting her at the party anyway because she is “ugly.”

My daughter locked herself in her room and cried. Each morning is a battle to get her to go to school. She thought this girl was her friend.

I tried to explain to my daughter that it’s just one mean girl who probably, deep down, hates herself and has to be mean as a result.

I have also noticed that she has been glued to her phone ever since. I want to take away her phone, but I’m afraid it’s too late. — Concerned Mother

Dear Concerned Mother: Your daughter experienced cyberbullying. Sadly, this is happening at an alarming rate. There are many helpful websites including the STOMP Out Bullying website that you and your daughter can search through together.

The National PTA site is dedicated to parents and offers tools to help children deal with cyberbullying.

A new documentary called “The Social Dilemma” came out on Netflix, and it discusses some of these very issues. Sit down and watch it with your daughter.

It’s also not too late to get her off her phone. But the decision will stick so much better if it comes from her. Ask her if she remembers her life before the phone and social media. Maybe it was a little freer, less complicated, and she was happier.

If none of this works and your daughter is completely withdrawn, you should consult a professional therapist.