Stand for the Silent, an organization helping to stop bullying
puts cyberbullying in the spotlight.
OKLAHOMA
CITY, May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As
kids around the country prepare for summer break, many parents
think there will be a break from the bullying at schools. While it
would be great if bullying took a summer break, it's simply not the
case as long as cyberbullying exists. Millions of kids will be
cyberbullied online this summer if nothing is done to raise
awareness and prevent it from happening. The more people know about
the issue, the better they can prevent and address it.
Technology is here to stay, but it has
opened the door to cyberbullying, and we must address it, says
Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand
for the Silent. The health and well-being of the nation's children
are at stake here, so this is an issue we all need to be concerned
with.
"Technology is here to stay, but it has opened the door to
cyberbullying, and we must address it," says Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the
Silent. "The health and well-being of the nation's children are at
stake here, so this is an issue we all need to be concerned
with."
According to the Pew Research Center, bullying is among parents'
top concerns for their children, and half of all U.S. teens report
that they have experienced cyberbullying. This includes being
called offensive names, having rumors spread about them, getting
explicit images they didn't ask for, and receiving physical
threats. While older teen girls are especially likely to be the
victims of cyberbullying, it's something that can happen to
anyone.
Cyberbullying affects one's mental, emotional, and physical
health. It is also linked to a higher risk of committing suicide. A
study published in the December 2023
issue of the journal BMC Psychiatry reports that suicidal ideation
is significantly higher among adolescents who have been
cyberbullied compared to those who have not been victims of
cyberbullying.
In another study published in the February 2023 issue of The Journal of the
American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, they report that the
incidents of cyberbullying and adolescent suicide are on the rise
in the U.S. While there are some state laws against cyberbullying,
there are no federal laws regarding it. However, they report that
civil litigation is commonly pursued in cases of cyberbullying that
are associated with the suicide of a minor.
Cyberbullying is an issue that can lead to the mental decline of
a minor, and it can significantly increase the risk of suicide.
This makes it imperative for parents, schools, and communities to
address the situation.
Here are some things that can be done to protect the youth this
summer from cyberbullying:
Raise awareness. The best way to combat this issue is to raise
awareness about it in the community. Those who identify it taking
place can quickly shut it down. Ideally, this issue should be
addressed in the home, school, and community.
Have a discussion. Parents, caregivers, and other adults should
discuss what cyberbullying is so that they can identify it and
avoid contributing to it. Cyberbullying includes posting and
spreading things around online that are lies, embarrassing photos,
threats, impersonating others, etc. Some teens may benefit from
speaking with a mental health professional if they have been
cyberbullied.
Identify and address it. Once people can identify cyberbullying,
they should address it. The first step is to let the person know
cyberbullying is not okay and report it to the platform. Keep
detailed records of any cyberbullying that takes place, including
screenshots and how it was addressed.
Consider technology. There are some technology tools that
parents can use to help reduce the exposure to cyberbullying. Some
will limit which apps can be used and block out certain
information.
See, say, do. When it comes to cyberbullying it is important
that when someone sees something that they say something and do
something about it. Left unchecked, it gets worse.
Reassure. If a child is being cyberbullied it is important that
they know it's not their fault. Let them know they are not to blame
and that it is not justified behavior. Validate their feelings
about the issue, listen to them, repeat back what is being heard,
etc.
Take it a step further. Some cyberbullying will need to be
addressed beyond reporting it to the platform or provider on which
it is being shared. Depending on the situation, it may need to be
reported to the school or police, especially if it has been
threatening.
Speak with an attorney. If taking the steps above does not
prevent or stop cyberbullying, some parents may want to consider
hiring an attorney. Discuss a civil case with the attorney to see
if there are legal options. Even hiring an attorney to send a
cease-and-desist letter to the person or family can have a
meaningful impact.
"The more we take action against cyberbullying, the safer our
children will be," adds Smalley. "Keeping them safe should be a top
priority for everyone in the community."
Stand for the Silent offers online tools and information to help
guide parents regarding all types of bullying, including
cyberbullying. Parents can visit their site for information on
their cyberbullying prevention program, warning signs, and more.
They offer a social bullets program to help parents with this issue
and they provide a free downloadable handbook that provides key
signals to recognize, guidelines for in-depth discussions, action
suggestions, and more. To get more information, visit the site at:
https://standforthesilent.org/for-parents/stopcyberbullying/
Smalley and his wife, Laura, started the organization following
their 11-year-old son, ending his own life due to bullying. They
turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others. He
travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools,
providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering
intervention strategies, and more. Those interested in getting
involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a
free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or cyberbullying handbook
for parents, host a presentation at their school, intro of how all
started video, and donate to help support the cause. To get more
information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/
About Stand for the Silent
Started in 2010, Stand for the Silent is an organization on a
mission to help eliminate bullying nationwide. Kirk and Laura Smalley founded the group after
their child took his own life due to bullying. They offer free
resources for parents and educators and travel to schools to host
presentations. They have been to over 6,025 schools and spoken with
more than 4.15 million students. To get more information, visit the
site at: https://standforthesilent.org/
Sources:
BMC Psychiatry. Cyberbullying victimization and suicidal
ideation among in-school adolescents in three countries.
December 2023.
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-05268-9#:~:text=Several%20studies%20have%20indicated%20that,non%2Dvictims%20%5B10%5D
Pew Research Center. 9 Facts about bullying in the U.S.
November 2023.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/17/9-facts-about-bullying-in-the-us/
The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
Cyberbullying and Adolescent Suicide. February 2023.
https://jaapl.org/content/early/2023/02/23/JAAPL.220078-22
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SOURCE Stand For The Silent