Developing a Positive School Climate to Prevent Bullying and Cyberbullying
[Note: To download a .pdf version of this resource, just click on the image above.] Spanish Translation Available Here Much research has shown that a positive school climate contributes to a variety of behavioral, emotional, and academic outcomes that educators hope to achieve. Our research demonstrates that students who report a positive climate at school […]
Teen Sexting: Advice for Parents
(For a formatted .pdf version of this article for distribution, click here]). Sexting is when someone takes a naked or semi-naked (explicit) picture or video of themselves, usually using their phone, and sends it to someone else. Some teens participate in sexting voluntarily as a way to flirt or be intimate with a romantic partner, […]
TikTok: Pros, Cons, and the Promise of Youth Empowerment
Discusses the pros and cons of TikTok, explores the current controversies, and shares how youth are using the popular app in positive ways. I trust by now that you’ve at least heard of TikTok, the fledgling short-form video app that has been around since 2016 but has exploded in popularity since the beginning of the […]
Trauma, Bullying, and Cyberbullying
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the felt experiences of youth who have to deal with bullying at school or online, and how it may have a traumatic effect on some of them. One might argue that most bullying incidents don’t induce trauma, and that may be true if we view all forms and […]
Share Your Cyberbullying Story
Share and read cyberbullying stories posted by others below. We have many resources on this site to help you deal with cyberbullying. If you are a teen, check out: Responding to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Teens. If you are an adult who is being harassed online, see our recommendations here. If you are a […]
Coronavirus, Online Learning, Social Isolation, and Cyberbullying: How To Support Our Students
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken the world by storm and disrupted so many aspects of our lives. As an educator, I’m always thinking about how historical phenomenon might affect (in positive and negative ways) the personal and professional success of our students and this disease has me concerned on a number of levels. Obviously, the […]
What Should Your School’s Bullying Policy Look Like?
We are regularly contacted by school administrators, board members, parents and others with questions about school bullying policies. In fact, a few months ago the principal at my son’s elementary school asked me to review their bullying policy. I am always happy to help, with the preemptive caveat that I am not a lawyer and […]
It is Time to Teach Safe Sexting
It’s 2020. And it’s about time we rethink our approach to teen sexting. Justin and I wrote an piece that was just published in the Journal of Adolescent Health (currently free to download!) arguing that it is time to take a more thoughtful and comprehensive approach to sexting, by supplementing abstinence messages with information to […]
Ten Ideas for Youth to Educate their Community about Cyberbullying
(For a formatted .pdf version of this article for distribution, click on the image above [or click here]). Spanish Translation Available Here You can be the solution to the cyberbullying problem. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1. RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. Spend time online to obtain a solid understanding of what cyberbullying […]
Sexting: Advice for Teens
(For a formatted .pdf version of this article for distribution, click here]). Spanish Translation Available Here Sharing pictures with romantic partners is a natural part of any relationship. It’s important, however, that you are doing so safely, responsibly, and appropriately. Exchanging explicit (nude) images is not only illegal if you are underage, it also can […]
