Be a Hero!

When someone is bullied, they are made to feel alone. The bully wants them to feel that everyone is against them, and that their hateful words are what everyone else thinks, too. That feeling of isolation is only amplified when the bullying takes place online, where their words can reach their victim any time of any day.

To counteract this, we need to not only align ourselves with the victims, but make our stances known to the bullies themselves. We need to strongly and compassionately support anyone whom is subjected to cyberbullying. At the same time, we need to let cyberbullies everywhere know that we recognize their damaging behavior and that it is not okay. These combined efforts will abolish the feeling of isolation and discourage the aggressors from continuing their behavior.

By downloading the I Am a Witness app and emoji, everyone can instantly obtain the perfect tool to accomplish both of the goals mentioned above – supporting the victims and discouraging the bullies. The emoji can be used on any social media platform; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, and Snapchat all support the use of the I Am a Witness emoji. It is easy, effective, and universally applicable. It also represents words and concepts that would take much longer to communicate than one click. By using the emoji, you are declaring that you are a part of a large and unified effort to stop bullying and that you WILL NOT stand by and watch anyone be subjected to bullying.

That last sentiment cannot be understated. The I Am a Witness campaign is a coordinated effort by many organizations, but the organizations are not the ones that need to stand up to bullying. Bullying can only be defeated by individuals; individuals brave enough to stand up when none of their friends do. Anyone and everyone can make a profound difference in the life of someone being bullied by simply standing with them and against bullying.

Have the power to change a life and eliminate bullying right at your fingertips. Download the I Am a Witness app and show your support by using the emoji to stand up to cyberbullying. Remember, the difference between a normal person and a hero is just a couple of decisions every day. Be a hero to someone being bullied and BE A WITNESS!

Woof! Bullies.

bul·ly¹ : use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

If you are being bullied, this video can help! But be sure to download the free I am a Witness emoji to help stop bullies for good.

Are bullying and cyberbullying the same exact thing?
Yes, in a sense; however, they differ in terms of statistics and how the bullying is acted. “Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites.”

What’s different about CYBERBULLYING?
Compared to traditional bullying, kids who experience cyberbullying have a harder time avoiding and escaping the behavior. This type of bullying can happen anytime and anywhere, even when the child is alone. What makes this type of bullying worse is that it is presented to a wider audience. Pictures, messages, and comments can be seen by everyone and it’s hard to delete them after being posted.

How much of an impact do social media platforms have in CYBERBULLYING?
A LOT. Let me tell you right now. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are bad news bears. Well, for teenagers anyway. These social media sites are hotspots for teens of this generation. These sites will also attract bullies.

Facebook:
– 80% of teens use Facebook.
– 54% of those teens have experienced cyberbullying.
Twitter:
– 43% of teens use Twitter.
– 28% of those teens have experienced cyberbullying.
Instagram:
– 24% of teens use Instagram.
– Exactly the same amount of those teens has all experienced cyberbullying.

YouTube:
– 66% of teens use YouTube.
– 21% of those teens have experienced cyberbullying.

Why does it seem like there are more reports of cyberbullying on social media than traditional bullying?
This is because bullying online and through the use of social media sites makes it EASY. It’s easier to say things to someone online rather than face-to-face. In this instance, saying something mean or threatening is easier to write on someone’s Facebook wall or comment on their picture on Instagram rather than say it to their face. According to Dave Harte, an expert in media communications; “Discussions in these groups would have followed a similar pattern. People with shared interests come together but often they would disintegrate because the Internet gives people the opportunity to say things that you wouldn’t say face to face.”

On a grand scale, social media has also become deadly. In a recent case back in June of 2016 where a teenage girl, 15, committed suicide after vicious cyber bullying on Snapchat. As parents, they have a responsibility to monitor what their kids are doing online; however, it’s also their top priority to teach their kids what they can do about cyber bullying on social media.

• Let an adult know what is happening.
• Keep records of the behavior for proof.
• Avoid responding to messages from a bully.
• Report the individual to the social media site.
• BLOCK THE HATERS!
• UNFRIEND THOSE MOFOS!

Witness

More and more, kids and teens are active participators in social media and online networking. But the more we are connected online, the issue of cyberbullying becomes more of a major concern.

Bullying has always been a problem for kids and teens. As many as one in four teens has experienced bullying within the last year.[1] To make matters worse, 90 percent of teens who have seen cyberbullying say they have ignored it.[2]  While most bystanders don’t stand up against bullying, research has shown that bystanders can have a significant impact to stop cyberbullying.

Many teens want to stand up against bullying, but they may not know how or they may fear becoming a target themselves. No one wants to experience the shame, ridicule, or humiliation of a bully. The problem is that just being a bystander can make a big difference. In effect, a bystander acts as an “audience” member which may give a bully the incentive to continue hurting others.

In an effort to empower teens to speak up, the Ad Council on behalf of federal government, non-profit, media and corporate communities have launched the I Am A Witness campaign. “I Am A Witness aims to stop bullying by activating the ‘silent majority’ of kids who witness it each day, transforming them from passive bystanders into an active collective that speak up against bullying.”[3]

The strength of the I Am A Witness resource is that individuals don’t have to face bullies alone. It’s easier to stop bullies when you have a team. The emoji does several things: it empowers teens to take action, it may be used to show support for a victim, and it can be used to spread the word. The emoji can be downloaded from their website to any device for free.

The I Am A Witness campaign brings attention to the severity of cyberbullying. Through the simple and powerful use of the emoji, communities are formed and bullying prevented. Make sure to tell a friend, a teacher, a student to download the emoji.

Cyberbullying

Many parents consider bullying a part of growing up. Just one or two instances is certainly not unusual—after all, everyone gets teased at one time or another. But some parents don’t realize the devastating effects that it can have on their children. When instances start happening on a regular basis, they become a serious problem.

While abuse and intimidation has been a long lasting problem for many teens, cyberbullying has become widespread in recent years. While cyberbullying may not be “direct” physical abuse, the scars are just as deep and meaningful.

According to cyberbullyhotline.com, suicide is the third leading killer of teens (followed by car accidents and homicide). Twenty percent of teens have had thoughts of suicide, and one in ten attempt it. With eighty percent of teens using social media on a regular basis, cyberbullying is a real threat to the health, safety, and development of our children.

In 2012 Jay ‘Corey’ Jones (age 17) and Rachel Ehmke (age 13) from Minnesota were both victims of cyberbullying. They endured months of ridicule that led them to suicide. In the wake of these two tragedies, Minnesota adopted laws preventing cyberbullying. Still many adults wonder what they can do to prevent their child from becoming a victim.

The anti-defamation league’s website tells parents to watch for these warning signs:

• appearing upset after using the computer or viewing text messages.
• appearing sad, moody, or anxious.
• expressing reluctance or refuses to participate in activities previously enjoyed.
• withdrawing from friends, family, and social activities.
• avoiding school.
• experiencing a drop in grades.
• showing signs of depression or sadness.

Given this list, it’s hard to know when these signs aren’t just “normal” teen behavior. The website suggests that parents build a close relationship with their children so that they can recognize emotional and physical changes that are unusual.

Here is a concise list of some of the things parents can do to prevent cyberbullying:

• Monitor online usage. Avoid letting children use devices that access the internet in their bedrooms.
• Frequently talk to children about online issues.
• Parents should learn how different social networking websites work and have access to all them.
• Set expectations for online usage with your children. Parents should seek their children’s input when establishing rules. This could result in the form of a contract.
• Work with school’s guidance counselors so that they can keep an eye out for bullying at school.
• Create a crisis plan should they becomes a victim of cyberbullying. Here are a few guidelines: 1. Don’t react; 2. Save messages; 3. Encourage the child to share with a trusted adult.
• If bullying escalates or continues, get law enforcement involved.

Everyday children of all ages experience cyberbullying. Whoopi Goldberg said, “Bullies are ball-less, soul-less creatures … It’s meant to make you feel afraid. It’s meant to make you feel powerless to take care of the situation you find yourself in.” As adults, we have the power to shape our children’s lives for the better. We can help them, educate them, and protect them. Bullying, on or offline, doesn’t have to be a part of growing up.