From today's Micro-Trend newsletter:

Cyberbullying—sending threatening messages or humiliating images to mobile phones, spreading secrets or misinformation in chat rooms, sending hurtful content in emails, posting false or harassing information on social network sites like Facebook—can turn cool technology tools into a nightmare for victims.

Many schools and states are taking serious action to prevent cyberbullying, such as a Massachusetts law passed earlier this year in response to recent cases ending in suicides, such as that of Phoebe Prince. But parents should take the first steps in helping their children navigate this dark side of communications technology by starting anti-bullying education when they are young. Here are some easy-to-remember safety tips for parents to share with children:

1. Think twice before you post. Be cautious about sharing anything personal online, even with people you know or in a private email or text conversation-the information could be made public by anyone you share it with.

2. Be respectful to others online. It sounds simple, but if you say disrespectful things online you're much more likely to be a victim of cyberbullying than if you treat people the way you want to be treated.

3. Don't participate. Even if you are not the bully, don't stand by and watch a bully harass someone else. Stand up for the victim and report it to your parents, teachers or other adult who may be able to report the bad behavior.

For more information, including a list of contact information for some of the more popular social networking and instant messaging sites that you can use to report cyberbullying, download Trend Micro's Safety Tips on Cyberbullying.

Trend Micro collaborates with online safety experts around the world to provide the best advice, information, and tools to families, teachers and schools. For the latest information, visit our new Internet Safety for Kids and Families site.