Category Archives: anti-cyberbullying

Jan
2
2012

 

Excerpt from Parents.com

It’s hard to protect your child if you don’t understand the problem with cyberbullying or see it happen. Parents need to be the ones their kids go to when something is wrong. However, parents are often the last ones to know about problems because their kids fear getting into more trouble. Here are practical tips to help parents, children, and schools prevent and stop cyberbullying.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

1. Keep the computer in a common area of the home. Do not allow it in your children’s bedrooms. Monitor their online usage.

2. Learn how various social networking websites work. Become familiar with Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Ask your children if they will show you their profile pages.

3. Talk regularly and specifically with your children about online issues. Let them know they can come to you for help if anything is inappropriate, upsetting, or dangerous.

4. Build trust with your children. Set time limits, explain your reasons for them, and discuss rules for online safety and Internet use. Ask your children to contribute to establishing the rules; then they’ll be more inclined to follow them.

5. Tell your children not to respond to any cyberbullying threats or comments online. However, do not delete any of the messages. Instead, print out all the messages, including the e-mail addresses or online screen names of the cyberbully. You will need the messages to verify and prove there is cyberbullying.

6. Don’t overreact by blaming your children. If they are being bullied, be supportive and understanding. Find out how long the bullying has been going on and ensure that you’ll work together to find a solution. Let your children know they are not to blame for being bullied.

7. Don’t underreact by telling your children to “shrug it off” or just deal with the bullying. The emotional pain of being bullied is very real and can have long-lasting effects. Don’t tease them about it or respond with a “kids will be kids” attitude.

8. Don’t threaten to take away your children’s computers if they come to you with a problem. This only forces kids to be more secretive.

9. Talk to your school’s guidance counselors so they can keep an eye out for bullying during the school day.

10. If there are threats of physical violence or the bullying continues to escalate, get law enforcement involved.

Read more from Parents.com

If you think (or know) your child is being bullied, Social Scanner and Mobsafety Ranger has the monitoring tools to help manage your child’s on-line activities. Contact us today http://family.socialscanner.com/contactus or visit Social Scanner or Mobsafety.com to try our iPhone monitoring app. Let us help you blunt the effects of cyberbullying.

 
Sep
14
2011

I happened across an awesome website today that I want to share with everyone.

 

NSTeens is a spinoff website from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® . NCMEC has teamed up with Sprint to create a new game called “Stop That Post!” This awesome and innovation idea has a goal of teaching the 8-12  age group of kids why it is important to not to reveal their (or their parents) personal information on the Internet.

Internet Safety for Tweens and Teens

Internet Safety for Tweens and Teens

Here’s an excerpt from the article: The focus of the new game involves players racing to stop their friends and family members from posting embarrassing information and images online. It is estimated that 93% of teens between the ages of 12 to 17 access the Internet from more than one location. This includes 89% who go online at home and 77% who go online at school. 

 

I browsed around this site and it truly looks like fun. Have other games as well including my personal fav CyberBullying Zombies Attack: “CyberBullies are attacking NSHigh! Protect the school by destroying all the zombies-or else they are going to share the IMs you sent about your crush, with the whole school! Oh, AND eat your brains…”

 

If it takes something unique and innovative as games to get kids to learn and be safe..I am all for it. Check this site out yourself at http://www.nsteens.org/ and if you need further assistance in monitoring and protecting your “in-betweens”, “tweens”, and teens, head over to www.Socialscanner.com and www.mobsafety.com.

 

..or Cyber Zombies will eat your brains (maybe).

NSTeens Cyberbully Zombies

 

 
Aug
11
2011

MTV’s “A THIN LINE” campaign has motivated more than one million young people to stand up against digital abuse.  In line with this, MTV is partnering with DailyFeats to reward the youth for every act they do to counter digital abuse.  This includes actions against cyberbullying, sexting and other forms of digital harassment.  Rewards said include a trip for two to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV online store discounts and other gifts.

Vice President for MTV Public Affairs Jason Rzepka says “MTV is proud to join with DailyFeats to break new ground, rewarding our audience for positive actions they take to help end digital abuse, promote inclusiveness, support their friends and pave a road to college success. Through this partnership and our other pro-social efforts, MTV is committed to fostering a culture of action — empowering Millennials and celebrating the work they’re doing to change the world.”

“When people decide to make simple, positive choices every day, over time really big change can happen, and impact all of society” said Morley Ivers, COO of DailyFeats.  “DailyFeats is ecstatic to be teaming with MTV to conquer some of the most pressing issues facing our generation.”

For more information, visit www.draw.athinline.org, www.ATHINLINE.org or www.DailyFeats.com.

 
Aug
7
2011

There have been a lot of precautions made online to control cyberbullying.  Also, many laws have been passed to fight this phenomenon.  However, cyberbullying has not been eliminated.  In fact, the numbers of cases are increasing.

That is why social network giant, Facebook, has offered $200,000 in grant money to be given to groups that would conduct research on bullying prevention.  This was announced during the recently held West Virginia Statewide Technology Conference.

This program is called “Digital Citizenship Research Grants.”  It is open to non-profit organizations and educational institutions.  Grant amounts range between $25,000 and $50,000 individually.  A maximum amount of $200,000 will be awarded between all successful applicants.  The application deadline is on September 12, 2011.  Facebook’s Safety Advisory Board will choose the winners by the end of October.

The official press release states that Facebook is particularly interested in proposals that are related to: online and offline bullying trends, roles of parents and educators in solutions, bullying prevention strategies, and how to reach out to kids regarding cyberbullying.  Facebook is looking for new insights on how to fight cyberbullying that can be applied universally.