Students launch campaign against cyberbullying

Saltust students have launched a special campaign against cyberbullying. They created a music video aimed to combat cyberbullying, which became a real online hit.

A group of 8 middle school girls crafted the song, took the pictures and wrote the script themselves. The video is a simple combination of black and white images and real bullying messages girls have received. They sang about pain and shame caused by cyberbullying and called others to join in their anti-bullying campaign. Girls suggested to tell parents or trusted adults about online bullying attacks, bringing the personal example of the girl who got expelled for cyberbullying.

By now there are thousands of registered cyberbullying cases both in the USA and Canada. The story of Amanda Todd, a Canadian girl who committed suicide after being cyberbullied and blackmailed by online predator, made online bullying a public danger.

McAfee security privacy chief firstly commented on cyberbullying in 2012. In her interview she stated that one in 10 kids are being cyberbullied without their parents knowing.

This number has tripled since then, below is the most recent statistics on cyberbullying shared by Bullyingstatistics.org and Pumpic child protection service:

• 92% of kids use smartphones to go online
• 51% of children admit to experience cyberbullying
• 25% of teens admit to be the online victim of cyberbullies
• Cyberbullying affects all races
• Girls are twice as likely to be bullied online
• Only 2 out of 9 kids will inform parents about cyberbullying attacks
• Cyberbullying is one of the top suicidal factors among teens

Officials of the Wood County Schools say that cyberbullying is very much the same as traditional bullying and they discuss and deal with it daily.

John Flint, the superintendent said that the biggest issue caused by online bullying is the inability to get away from the conflict. “Kids used to fight and then go home, where they could cool off, without seeing that person. It is opposite right now. Kids continue fighting online at home, sometimes all night and all weekend. They say horrible things to each other as it is easier to do so, without having face-to-face conversation”.

Flint also said that it is “a new field we are dealing with right now. It is an absolutely new area and both parents and administrators have to be aware”.

Betsy Patterson, a deputy superintendent stated that cyberbullying is no different than any kind of bullying. She also said that her school has adopted cyberbullying awareness into their policy.

The school follows state code of child safety, which sites cyberbullying along other forms of deliberate harassment.