"Friend Game" Presentation

Online Bullying is no joke and needs to be taken seriously.

Statistics
According to WLTX Channel 19, the statistics they have found are based on the 2004 i-SAFE survey of 1,500 students from grades 4 through 8. Forty-two percent of children say they have been bullied online. Thirty-five percent of children say they have been threatened online. And fifty-eight percent of children say they have not told a parent about the bullying. 80% of cyber bullying is not reported.

Cases of Online Bullying
According to CBS news, there was one case in missouri where Mary Ellen Handy had a fight over a boy with another female online. The other person online called her a whore, a slut, and said I can’t believe you took my man. In general, people would say to others, “Nobody likes you, ugly, you’re a fat cow, and you have no friends, etc”. Mary Ellen Handy is still alive and what worked for her was a “low-tech” solution where bigger kids, meaning those who are not afraid to stand up to bullies, tell the bully to back off. Mary Ellen Handy says, "If it wasn't for them, I don't know if it would've stopped". She meant if it weren’t for the bigger kids to stand up to the bullies she didn’t know if the online bullying issue will ever stop. Another case was an 8th grader named Ryan Halligan. A rumor about him was spread online. I don’t know what the rumor was about but from reading the article I know it was very difficult for Ryan to go through. It was unfortunate and heartbreaking to hear Ryan’s dad John Halligan say, “Depression from cyber bullying contributed to my son’s suicide at the age of 13”.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/15/eveningnews/eyeontech/main2483480.shtml

Video on the case of 19 year old Megan in Missouri
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=online+bullying&hl=en&emb=0&aq=-1&oq=#q=online+bullying&hl=en&emb=0&aq=-1&oq=&start=0

A way to prevent online bullying
There are ways to prevent online bullying. You can educate yourself and be aware of what is going on around you. There are books and games to read and play while at the same time you are learning. For example, there is a game that is called, “Standing up to bullying!” It is an educational computer game that teaches school aged children anti-bullying skills in a fun and exciting way. This game can be played by 1 or 4 players. It teaches children effective ways to resolve issues without violence. It can be played in classrooms, home, and therapy settings. It comes in a game board format. It also teaches anti-bullying skills, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, confrontational skills, how the self-esteem effects bullying, profiles of bullies and their victims, friendship skills, anger management skills, and importance of body language and its effect on bullying. The price of this game is $19.95 and you save up to 40 dollars. Those that purchase the game will receive free unlimited updates. The limited trial version is on http://www.strongfamilies.us/computergame.php http://www.strongfamilies.us/ComputerGameTrialSWF/ABTrial.html. If you have any questions for more information you can call 1800-777-0955.

I played the game and I learned that if you want to react respond the opposite of what the bully is saying to you. Bullies do not throw the first punch. Bullies let their victims throw the first punch first so that way the bully won’t get in trouble for it. I found the game to be interesting, fun, educational, etc. The questions get repetitive throughout the game but I think it will be worth it at the end when I win each level. I didn’t get far in the game. I was still on level one. It was getting late, and I stopped playing. It was a great experience, and everyone should try it.

Tips on how to handle online bullying:

According to the CBS news, many social networking sites do not allow at all for anyone to use abusive language. If someone reports bullying then the bully’s account can and will be shut down. Parents can also install spy software to monitor their children’s messages. There is also a service that can search and destroy hurtful comments. Unfortunately, I don’t know what that specific service is called because CBS did not mention the name.

Tell an adult
Do not open messages but keep those messages saved for evidence.
There is a way to block bullies from aim.

According to WLTX Channel 19 news, research says:
Don’t React
Don’t Respond
Just Report

According to WJZ Channel 13, on Feb 19, 2009 at 5:47pm Eastern Time Gigi Barnett reports that legislator in Maryland wants to ban online bullying due to all of the profound hurtful words that caused the lives of so many people.