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The relationship between empathy and healthy peer relationships has been studied at length over the years, and research suggests that building empathy can help reduce bullying and cyberbullying while simultaneously promoting tolerance, kindness, and peer respect in student interactions. While many teachers and administrators affirm its importance, they often do not have a toolbox of…
I’ve recently discussed the susceptibility of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to be cyberbullied, outlining a number of reasons that contribute to such victimization. When it comes to suggestions as to how we can help these kids, a few things stand out in my mind. First, it is really important to try to understand…
I was talking with an educator last week about enlisting students to help create a healthy, thriving, and fun school climate, and specifically brought up the idea of flash mobs and lip-dubs. Many of our students have talents and abilities which we should really tap in order to help us promote positive attitudes and behaviors…
One of the complaints I’ve heard most often from educators, parents, and youth when discussing cyberbullying is that social media companies are slow, inept, or unwilling to respond to the formal “reports” they send in through the site or app. This is not only infuriating, but also depressing because it contributes to a feeling of…
Yesterday, I testified on “cyberbullying and social media” in front of the Federal Commission of School Safety, chaired by Secretary Betsy DeVos and comprised of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (Homeland Security), Secretary Alex Azar (Health and Human Services), and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Collectively, they are trying to garner insight on the ecology of schools and…
Most generally, the term bullying is equated to the concept of harassment, which is a form of unprovoked aggression often directed repeatedly toward another individual or group of individuals.[1] However, bullying tends to become more insidious as it continues over time and may be better equated to violence rather than harassment. Accordingly, Erling Roland states…
This talk will teach participants to: Apply evolving best practices in bullying prevention to their own schools and communities Understand how to connect with teens on these issues, so they reduce their own vulnerability Learn how to motivate and inspire youth to combat bullying through kindness initiatives Understand how anonymous reporting systems, peer mentoring, social…
This talk will teach participants to: Understand the responsibilities of schools which use technology to meet educational needs Consider multiple lower, appellate, and Supreme Court cases which provide precedent and guidance when and how to intervene Determine how policy should be structured, and whether to move towards a prohibitive or permission atmosphere regarding devices Apply…
This talk will teach participants to: Understand youth brain development and how it affects online decisions Identify popular online environments among adolescents today Understand online social networking as a phenomenon, both psychologically and as it plays out among youth Obtain a baseline for what the research says about digital reputation mistakes Identify how adolescents are…
This talk will teach participants to: Learn what the research currently says about the prevalence, motivations, and implications of sexting Discuss the realities of sextortion and revenge porn among youth Understand how and why this occurs in obvious and not-so-obvious ways via smartphones and various social media apps Explore the reality of Snapchat hacks, the…
I was chatting with some of my students yesterday about cyberstalking, and just as I suspected, at least a few had experienced it and were able to share compelling stories about what happened. It reminded me of two times I personally dealt with it as well, one by a fellow student in undergrad that lasted…
With First Lady Melania Trump mentioning cyberbullying as the major social issue she would like to prioritize and tackle during her husband’s U.S. presidential administration, everyone in my line of work has been buzzing about what that could possibly mean. These last eight years have brought good progress with anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying efforts by the…
It annoys me so much when well-intentioned adults label certain apps as “dangerous” or “evil.” I’ve recently heard such descriptive words about a relatively new app called Discord. Like most new platforms that have come down the pike, there is nothing inherently problematic about it as the majority of participants use it in positive, productive,…
By Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin This cyberbullying guide is a nine-page summary – filled with as much useful information as possible – to equip educators, parents, and other youth-serving adults to spot cyberbullying, respond to it appropriately and meaningfully, and to prevent its future occurrence among those they care for. If you only…
If you work in the youth safety space, you know that certain initiatives (such as resilience building) have focused on targets of bullying and cyberbullying. Other programming has concentrated attention on aggressors – to the kids who harass, humiliate, and threaten other youth offline and online. Here, restorative practices and social emotional learning (anger management,…
This presentation is designed for school professionals and other youth workers who desire a comprehensive understanding of (and action plan to deal with) cyberbullying, sexting, and unwise social media use. Apart from providing foundational information about trends and patterns, it will cover relevant legal principles and provide clarity from the courts as to when to…
This presentation is designed for educators who desire a deeper understanding of (and action plan to deal with) teen technology misuse among youth today. We first share updated research findings, as well as important correlates and consequences. With regard to prevention, we emphasize the importance of developing kids with moral compasses, compassionate hearts, and resilient…
Designed for parents and other adults who care about kids, this presentation provides a broad overview of the way teens are using and misusing their phones and various Internet-based technologies with a focus on cyberbullying, sexting, and unsafe social media practices. The latest apps and sites will be discussed, as well as what adults can…
Our high school assembly seeks to give students the information and tools to use technology safely, responsibly, and appropriately. We’re not trying to “scare them straight” as much as empower them to make good decisions online. Technology is an amazingly powerful tool that can be used for good or bad. We promote positivity! That said,…
Designed for upper-class students in leadership roles, this interactive presentation empowers youth to take a stand against offline and online cruelty and encourages key students to play a role in creating and maintaining a school culture that condemns bullying in all of its forms and instead promotes positivity, kindness, and going above and beyond. After…
Our middle school assembly begins by covering the basics of schoolyard bullying and cyberbullying. We discuss what bullying is (and what it is not), so that students can identify and report it to proper authorities if necessary. We also empower them by giving them tools they can use if they are being mistreated or see…
Our upper elementary assembly is designed for students in grades 3-5 who need a general introduction to the safe and responsible use of technology. Students will learn what to do if they are being mistreated at school or online, or if they see something bad happening to one of their friends. Students are encouraged to…
Our lower elementary assembly is designed for students in grades K-2. They’re already using their parents’ smartphones and tablets; they know how to load up YouTube and their favorite social and gaming apps. And they are starting to see sarcasm, meanness, and offensive language in comments and posts, while also growing in their ability to…
We have talked a lot about resilience over the last year, and have shared some practical ways to cultivate that ability. Today, I want to provide some additional tangible strategies to help you further. I have previously discussed that it is critical for kids to be placed intentionally in situations where they can discover their…