7th grade bullying project – Words Hurt, Holliston Middle School, Robert H. Adams Middle School
These girls are real seventh grade students who have seen and experienced the painful effects of cyber bullying. It is not something that can be categorized as only a problem in big cities or in specific schools or communities. Cyber bullying is everywhere and it is real. According to No Bullying Cyber Bullying 2014 Statistics, “25% of teenagers reported having experienced repeated bullying via their cell phone or online; 52% of young people reported being cyber bullied; 95% of teenagers who witnessed bullying on social media reported that others, like them, ignored the behavior.” These statistics are frightening and need to be changed, so Great Plains Communications asks you to stand up with us in the fight against cyber bullying. Stand up with us in the fight to keep our children and communities safe.
Below we have listed a few things stopbullying.gov has suggested to keep in mind to help in the fight against cyber bullying:
- Be Aware of What Your Kids are Doing Online
- Just like a physical place, ask your kids where they are going online and who they are going on there with.
- Install parental control filtering software or monitoring programs, but do not rely solely on these tools.
- Encourage your kids to tell you immediately if they, or someone they know is being cyberbullied.
- Establish Rules about Technology Use
- Talk with your children about which sites are permitted when they are online and which ones are not. Show them how to be safe online.
- Help them understand what is smart to share online and what isn’t, and explain how words can be hurtful.
- Explain to them that once something is posted, it is out of their hands who sees or shares it even if they try to take it down.
- Understand School Rules
- Most schools have developed policies on uses of technology that could affect the child’s online behavior in and out of the classroom. Ask the school about their policies.
Children today are growing up in a different world than their parents. Their pain could be stemming from much more than a scraped knee from falling off their bike. It is time we took a stand and started asking the right questions to bring those statistics down.
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