DANVILLE — North Ridge Middle School parent Melissa Downing believes the Internet and cell phone text messages have made bullying a constant presence for some children.

“It’s the same issues with words that hurt, but they are played out on screens,” she said.

“Bullying is picking on other kids and excluding other kids, and now they can do it as a group on Facebook,” Downing said.

“It’s an epidemic,” she said. “Parents have to be more proactive.”

District 118, in cooperation with the University of Illinois, presented “Social Media Use: What Is a Caregiver’s Role?” Thursday night to parents districtwide on the effects of cyberbullying and how to proactively monitor their child’s Internet use to help them stay safe.

The presentation drew about two dozen parents, some bringing their children with them, to Dick Van Dyke Auditorium at Danville High School.

Downing said she monitors the Facebook activity of her twin seventh-graders.

“I watch every day and see what’s going on and what conversations they’re having,” she said.

“My kids are under 18, so I don’t call it snooping. They have to willingly give me their passwords.”

Downing added, “My twins also don’t have cell phones. When they’re 16 and driving, then I’ll let them have a cell phone for safety issues.”

Thursday night’s presentation initially was planned to be a parent follow-up to a cyberbullying talk given to South View students, but the forum was opened up to the entire district.

South View Principal Brenda Yoho introduced the presentation.

“District 118 is taking a strong stance on bullying. We’re doing everything we can to make sure our kids are safe,” she said.

“If you see a distinct change in your child’s behavior: if they won’t talk to you or if they’re sleeping a lot, those are warning signs,” Yoho said, indicating a child might be depressed or frustrated from bullying.

Two videos were shown that highlighted social media abuse and the effects of cyberbullying.

“They are bullied at school and bullied online, and they don’t have a chance to escape it,” said Lisa De La Rue, a doctoral student of Dorothy Espelage, an educational psychology professor.

According to statistics from the U of I’s Espelage Lab, 93 percent of young people are now online, 73 percent are on Facebook or MySpace and 75 percent own cell phones.

While 40 percent of bullying occurs in person, 17 percent happens online, another 14 percent occurs in the form of text messages sent to a cell phone and 10 percent in phone calls, according to U of I research.

Unfortunately some children are using technology “in ways to be mean and rude,” De La Rue said.

“Some students are targeted and constantly bullied,” she said. “A smaller number of students are also sexting.”

De La Rue advised parents to check the browser history on their child’s computer and “talk about negative consequences in advance.

“Let them know what they put on there now will be out there forever,” she said of Facebook posts.

“You should think of these social media as a privilege,” De La Rue told parents. “You have the right to cut it off or restrict it.”

Parent Robbie Rew agreed, saying her children have to give her the passwords to their phones and online accounts, “otherwise they lose them.”

“Parents need to talk to other parents and grill your kids every day about what they’re doing,” she said.