From the article: A Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying
Has someone in your family had to deal with threatening or harassing behavior online? What happened? What kind of support did you receive for the cyberbullying? Was the situation resolved? If so, how? Please share your cyberbullying stories with us. **If someone says or does something that makes you feel scared or uncomfortable, please speak to an adult or the authorities. Share Your Story
Mean Kids At School
- I'm 13 years old and I'm in the seventh grade. About a week ago there was this girl in my grade who posted this comment on facebook and it said that I was really annoying. When I confronted her about it, she said "I don't know what you're talking about." The comment is still there and I am left upset. Kids in middle school find it cool and funny to insult other kids. I just go along with it and "laugh", but deep down I feel sad. A lot of kids like to make fun of me and I've gotten some mean texts from kids in my class. I don't know what there problems are, but I wish they would leave me alone or at least be nice to me.
- —Guest Niceguy101
How to Deal...
- My family recently had to deal with a cyber bully. My son has had an ongoing problem with two particular class members. They were not former friends and did not know eachother until sixth grade. One of the boys lives in our nieghborhood and occassionally will cause problems during school breaks. This summer he located our son on MySpace and decided to start sending threats of being attacked when school started, mexican mafia and other scenarios. We acted promptly the same evening they began, by printing the messages (both sides) and contacting the police. They took copies contacted the family and added the information to the boys record. Here are the additional steps they had us take. 1. Inform them that the authorities are being contacted.2. Do not coax further contact from them. 3. Make three copies of messages *Keep one on file *Provide one to the police *and on to your childs school principal for their records This way an evidence file is created for future use if needed.
- —HeyMama95
I was stupid and lived to tell the tale.
- I did something stupid at 16. I contacted a reality show contestant, got accused of stalking her, then people spread my name across forums/sites to insult me. 7-8 years later, this makes me shudder to realize my stupidity.
- —Guest AN Other
Resist
- I was a victim of cyberbullying. It saddens me to see and read stories about people who have committed suicide because of this. But I believe we, as teens, can get through it with resistance and courage. Sharing each others' stories and letting our voices be heard. I am a teen writer at RadicalParenting.com which is a parenting blog from the kid's perspective there are 60 teen and tween writers run by teen author, Vanessa Van Petten.
- —Guest G
New Hope
- I asked some of our students about cyber bullying and was surprised to discover that a lot of it is caused by boredom and the fact that it "is" possible to send messages to one another. An increasing number of the kids now use Waliwali.com because the only thing it allows them to do is say hello (in English and other languages). I'm not sure if it's primarily aimed at kids, but I like the fact that it promotes positive message exchange. Something our kids need to relearn. Dolph
- —Dolph62
High school drama
- I remember a few years ago when I was in high school. There was this girl kinda like the girl that everyone wanted to be friends with. We became good friends then oneday I saw her going through a girl's bag in class and I gave her a look as to say what are you doing?? Then after class she was like don't ever look at me like that again!! Then we stopped talking and she took all my friends away..Then oneday my friend came up to me and said I got to tell you something. She's like well umm there's this picture of you online..and it's pretty bad. I wasn't expecting what I saw. When I got home she sent it too me and it was a picture of three obese people have sexing and the person wrote my name then my mom's name and dad's name. I was shocked and devasted. Worse, was that there were more picture the other one was an actual picture of me that was altered. It got pretty bad. I didn't want to go to school then my dad found out and went to the principal with it.
- —Guest Lexi
Scared at home
- I'm an adult woman and had a falling out with a cyber friend. She was banned from the site I'm on, but she has gotten back on using a different name. It has been confirmed it is her, but not enough proof for the admin to ban her again. She make subtle references to let me know it is her. And I can tell you, even as an adult I feel violated in my own home. I'm uncomfortable on the site now and don't know how or if I should respond to her. This is not just a problem for children. It has happened on two sites I have belonged to and it's very frustrating not to be able to do anything about it.
- —Annie108
