WebWiseKids Blog : bullying

Is Your Child Being Cyberbullied?

Kimberly Howard — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:59:00 GMT

While the Internet has allowed us greater delivery of information, improved communication networks between people, and provided faster and smoother access to products and services, it has also created another way in which our personal security can be put in jeopardy. Our personal information is available in electronic form to an unknown range of people and often lack of awareness and poor security management can result in your personal details being accessed by people you don’t know.

A Closer Look at Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can involve malicious personal attacks such as spreading lies and rumors about others, forwarding private text messages or emails, posting pictures of victims without their knowledge or consent, or pretending to be other people in order to gain information.

In October, President Obama launched National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) – a series of events and initiatives that are designed to increase education and awareness of cybersecurity within businesses and the average private home. Americans are encouraged to participate in the fight against cybercrime by following simple steps that will keep their information safe from potential harm. NCSAM suggests Internet users set strong passwords, install updates on all computers, limit the amount of personal information posted online and be cautious about what websites are accessed. Personal information is even more sensitive today. With the dependency on social media, theft protection services, like Lifelock.com, are more imperative than ever before.

Daily Use

Information security is not the only issue that has risen in the past few years with the rise in the use of the Internet – cyberbullying has become a large problem for many young people both within the United States and across the globe. A 2011 Pew Research Center study reported that 93 percent of American teenagers (12-17 years) were using the Internet. At the same time, the increased social networks that have developed through sites such as Facebook and Twitter have meant that young people have more opportunity to be bullied, teased or embarrassed by others. Delaware Online says that more than 140,000 students stay away from school daily due to cyberbullying.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Cyberbullying?

Teenagers can refuse to participate in the bullying of other young people, encourage their friends to stop, or report cyberbullying to a trusted adult. Young people who are being bullied can report the problem to teachers, parents or trusted adults. Schools should discuss the issues associated with cyberbullying, be proactive in explaining the dangers of social media and discourage all students from participating in cyberbullying.

Parents should have open conversations with their teenagers about the responsible use of the Internet and the impact their words can have on others in social media situations. Parents should also be aware of what sites their teenagers are using, and if they notice any emotional changes in their children, speak to them about issues they may be experiencing.

While the size and accessibility of the Internet and social media make it very difficult for parents to control what websites their children are using, it is important for parents and schools to educate young people on the best ways to use the web, when it is safe to provide personal information, and how to protect themselves against cyberbullying.

BeSeen to Launch in USA Today

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:16:00 GMT

Watch our president, Judi Westberg Warren, talk about our upcoming BeSeen app launch in USA Today.

Click here to watch

Web Wise Kids Speaks on the Criminalization of School Bullies

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:17:00 GMT

“We need to treat children as children,” says Web Wise Kids' President, Judi Westberg Warren. Warren believes that bullying should not be a criminal offense, and shared her stance at the Northeastern University School of Law symposium on March 30 titled: “Should School Bullies Face Criminal Punishment?” The symposium featured a full-day schedule of panels discussing the legal implications of school bullying.

Warren says that although it is understandable why the public seeks to exact harsh punishments on bullies who have caused psychological damage, harm and even death to others, school bullies are still children and have a limited capacity of understanding the repercussions of their actions. Instead, Warren believes that these children need to be rehabilitated. To watch Judi further discuss this topic, please click here

Web Wise Kids works to educate kids, parents, teachers, educators and the community on the values of making safe and wise choices in a technologically evolving world. We create specialized games that help youth actively learn about the dangers and consequences that can result from the misuse of technology and the Internet. Additionally, Web Wise Kids provides training and extra support material to help parents, teachers and educators successfully facilitate the games for their children and students.

Have you seen our latest game? BeSeen is a phone app game that simulates a social networking site for a high school where players create profiles and travel through a condensed school year, navigating through challenging social situations and puzzles along the way. The game is designed to help kids understand responsible online behavior such as securing their personal information, protecting their privacy and defending their peers against bullying. The BeSeen app is available on both iPhone and Android platforms.

Check out our program for parents and teachers to use BeSeen with their kids.

Should School Bullies Face Criminal Punishment?

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:17:00 GMT

Web Wise Kids CEO Joins March 30 Northeastern University Law School Panel

Santa Ana, CA – Judi Westberg Warren believes that bullying should not be classified as a criminal offense. Surprising since she has spent the last 20 years fighting bullying as the President/CEO of Web Wise Kids. Warren was selected to speak on a panel of experts to be held on Friday, March 30 at Northeastern University Law School. The symposium, called “Pushed Too Far: The Evolving Legal Implications Of School Bullying”, features a significant number of experts in the legal profession.

“This is a great opportunity for us to share our view of this issue with such a prestigious group of legal experts” said Web Wise Kids President and CEO Judi Westberg Warren. “I look forward to a provocative and engaging discussion on this important issue”.

The panel is titled: “Should School Bullies Face Criminal Punishment?” and will be part of a full day schedule on the legal implications of school bullying.

Additional panels will include topics like “Hazing in Higher Education” and “Cyberbullying and the First Amendment”. The day will include keynote presentations from David Sullivan, District Attorney for the Northwestern District of Massachusetts and Gary Mayerson, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the recent case of TK v. New York City Department of Education.

“The Web Wise Kids mission is to teach kids, parents and the community the value of making safe and wise choices in a technologically evolving world,” said Warren. “And I look forward to contributing my voice on this topic with the legal community”.

To learn more about Warren’s stance on the legal implications of school bullying, click this link to watch a short video: http://youtu.be/1ESfPeM9SEQ

About Web Wise Kids:

Web Wise Kids (http://webwisekids.org) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Southern California with satellite offices in the Northwest and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to empower today’s youth to make wise choices online. Since 2000, Web Wise Kids has been a leader in preventing online child victimization by providing innovative and effective tools to assist young people to flourish in a world of media and technology. Web Wise Kids is honored to be a part of the Federal government’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. Trend Micro, CTIA/The Wireless Foundation and the Verizon Wireless Foundation are trusted supporters of Web Wise Kids.