By SUZAN DELIBASIC,
technology editor

Some of the nation’s leading cyber bullying experts are urging parents to monitor their children’s phones during the school holiday period next week.

Founder and CEO of Bully Zero Foundation Australia Oscar Yildiz warned mobile phone apps such as Kik Messenger, Ask.fm, and Snapchat were notorious for cyber bullying.

“There is usually a 10 per cent increase of support phone calls during school holidays as students don't see each other on a daily basis and resort to cyber bullying instead,” Mr Yildiz said.

The anonymity allowed users on Kik Messenger was a major concern, he said.

“The biggest risk with using Kik Messenger is that you don’t need to have a phone number to create an account. Children and teenagers can purchase the cheapest mobile phone that allows them to download the app, and all they need is an internet connection to use it,” Mr Yildiz said.

Cyber bullying and security expert Leonie Smith, who has appeared on 60 Minutes and The Project to discuss staying safe online, said teenagers used Instagram, Facebook and messaging apps to bully their victims by impersonating or humiliating them.

“Before the holidays, many parents ask for my help to increase their safety and awareness as their kids are on their devices more for leisure and activities,” Ms Smith said.

Anti-bullying advocate Hannah Swinnerton, who runs a Facebook support page to raise awareness on cyber bullying, domestic violence and mental health, says she was bullied every day from prep to year 12.

Ms Swinnerton, now 21, said she never looked forward to school holidays because the bullies would have more time on their hands.

“During the school holidays the bullies used Facebook to taunt me. They would get a photo of my face and put it on a pig or cow’s body, and then post them online so everyone from my school could see them. They told me I was ‘worthless’, and that I should ‘commit suicide’,” she said.

“If I committed suicide then I would have let the bullies win, and I didn't want to leave my family in pain, so I overcame it by seeking the help I needed from Headspace.

“At my year 12 valedictory dinner, I received the Best Bullying Speech award. I went from a victim to a survivor,” Ms Swinnerton said.

Founder of Internet Education and Safety Services (INESS) Brett Lee, a former Queensland police detective, delivers training on internet safety and cyber bullying to school communities and workplaces around Australia.

“Cyber bullying generally occurs where most people congregate – the mainstream programs. At this stage these programs include Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook,” Mr Lee said.

“Communication apps and programs connect us with others and therefore expose us to the inappropriate behaviour of others. Perceived anonymity and privacy gives one less reason to behave appropriately. While most people treat others well online we are placed in a position to be threatened, blackmailed or targeted,” he said.

Allem Halkic, 17, who had just begun year 12, took his life in 2009 after being bullied online during the school holidays and receiving a number of threatening text messages from a former friend.

His father, Ali Halkic, said cyber bullying during the school holidays was something all parents should be concerned about.

“Mobile phone apps such as Snapchat are ruining the lives of innocent teenagers,” Mr Halkic said.

“The real problem with Snapchat is that parents don’t fully understand the danger of this app. All it takes is one incriminating photo to completely destroy the life of an innocent teenager.”

Mr Halkic, who is a director and board member of Bully Zero Foundation Australia, visits schools around Australia to talk about the risks of cyber bullying.

“It’s my mission to devote my time to educate students and their parents on the dangers of cyber bullying. No parent should ever have to go through the pain and suffering that my family still experiences,” he said.

“It’s time for Facebook, Snapchat and other social media apps to take some accountability for the growing number of cyber bullying victims. They need to be more productive in raising awareness regarding the risks involved by using these apps.”

If you are in need of support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.