Let's Fight It Together: Cyber-Bullying Video From Childnet International

Great post, Nancy. My fervent hope is that tons of parents will watch and heed the advice.

It is truly the parents responsibility to be "aware". I also think all computers should be in "public spaces" in the home.

nice, this could be on hand to most people.

Excellent. Thank you. Featured in the Group.

There is a popular teen show, called Gossip Girl, styled after the popular teen books, Gossip Girl, about over-privileged kids on Manhattan's UWS. Most of the characters are desteable, though I do like the character Serena. In one episode last year, Serena was in a drugstore buying a pregnancy test, when her nemesis, Blair, started sending emails on her cell phone that Serena was pregnant. By the time Serena got to school the next day, she was shunned. Serena was not pregnant, and might not even have bought the test for herself. I don't remember.

But articles on teen's like of rumor spreading and shunning through cell phones have been written; some of these kids thinks it is just a game.

It is not.

I get a lot of Google news alerts on cyberbullying and on cyberstalking. A lot of them are from the UK. It may seem that the issue in the UK is even more widespread than the US, but I choose to believe there is simply more publicity about it in the UK.

This was such a painful story to watch.

Painful it is parents responsibility. What is really sad is where did these kids learn to be so much of a bully?

great post, i agree with Renee 100%!

Nancy L., you are such a wise, wise woman. Thanks for reminding all of us to be there for the teens we know and love... and even those with whom we don't have a family tie. If someone had asked me at 13, 14 or 15 how I was doing... it might have made a big difference in how I behaved at 16, 17 and 18. Teenagers are still kids, self-centered and passionately dramatic, but needy too. I hope more parents heed your advice and pay attention to them instead of thinking it is just a 'stage' they'll outgrow. Teens need love too.

Renee,

Kids who "follow the leader" (not actively participating but not stepping in to stop the bullying) often don't feel secure enough about their own identity to separate themselves from other kids who do things they know are wrong.

Clearly bullies have issues of their own; I believe low self-esteem is a major factor. There could be many reasons why a kid behaves that way: violence or other abuse in the home, emotional disorders, etc.

Anyone involved in bullying needs help to understand why they do it and what can be done to truly satisfy whatever void they are trying to fill in their lives.

Elizabeth, I don't know how wise I am, but I am always open to learning.

I have a teenage daughter and we have been always been close, but sometimes it takes a lot of effort to establish a bond where kids feel safe coming to their parents and talking about their concerns or fears. If they feel those concerns will be minimized or ignored, they won't volunteer information.

They need to know they are more important to their parents than what's on TV, or talking on the phone, or even Gather. I've heard people say it's so hard to raise kids, and they're right—it is. I never had a child expecting her to raise herself; that's the job I signed up for when I became a parent.

You also brought up a good point about kids to whom we are not related. We need to remember that every kid is someone's kid and I hope others would help me look out for mine as I will for theirs. It takes a village, right?

More great information. I'll be passing this information on to my sister, who has a 12-year-old daughter.

It's really awful when anyone bullies you. But, when they do it online too, it's doubly bad.
Luckily, I never got on the computer when I lived at home.
And, kids only bullied me at school.


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It is sad that it is so easy to bully each other as kids now. I like to hope that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Sad.

Great video everybody should see...

Blessings and best wishes - S.

Angela, I'm so sorry you were bullied anywhere. It's not okay- ever.

Georgiana, I understand what you're saying, but I don't think bullying works that way for most kids (makes them stronger). It can cause serious psychological damage that sometimes isn't obvious until something else triggers a reaction.

We need to remember that every kid is someone's kid and I hope others would help me look out for mine as I will for theirs. It takes a village, right?

it would be nice if that were possible........but it isn't.........try it sometime and warch the rest of the village come after you.......been there.....done that....

Well, I think we have to try. The world doesn't become a better place without a lot of effort. To give up is to give in, and I refuse to do that.

I have no young ones except for my grandkids and they are a bi ttoo young for this problem. However, my daughter knows it exists and when they do reach Facebook age, I think she will be prepared.

Thanks for the input.

Well done video, really sad

Great information to have, Nancy. Thanks so much for posting this.

I hope parents are aware. Dr. Yamasaki Ph.D in Shikoku Japan has spent nearly his entire professional career trying to find methods for parents an teachers to use to have more openness and less behavioral problems in roughly two months. His program requires both parents and teachers to be involved. Dr. Yamasaki has given presentations at the University of Michigan, Ohio State and other universities. His work is brilliant and is written in both Japanese and English.

Thanks for sharing this.

Excellent and muchly needed.