Opening day schedule for the high school staff always includes a speech by our principal. After the welcome and introductions of the new staff members, the principal immediately went into reviewing the high school’s Bullying Policy. Unfortunately, it is needed. Each year there seems to be students throughout the four grades that feel it necessary to cause emotional harm to others. It’s like the food chain, the stronger zero in on the weaker. Most often times, it’s the bully that turns out to be the actual coward…and not necessarily in high school. I know for a fact that it happens in the lower grades, too.

With the increase in the number of social networks, kids take it upon themselves to use them as a device for bullying. With the “convenience” of Internet access via cell phones, cyber bullying can be done anywhere at anytime. Instead of doing it in person, the bullies can hide in cyberspace (so they think).Thanks to SafetyWeb, they can’t.

What is Cyberbullying?

“Cyberbullying” simply refers to the act of bullying online. The effects of cyberbullying can hurt and hurt quickly. There have been numerous stories in the news of children, teens, and young adults who have been driven to suicide or violent crime as a result of being bullied online. While these tend to be the more extreme cases, cyberbullying can have a serious detrimental effect on a victim’s self-esteem, emotional well-being, and sense of personal safety.

Cyberbullying Facts

The cyberbullying statistics can be quite daunting. For example, a study done by isafe.org on 1,500 students grades 4-8 found the following:

  • 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
  • 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once.
  • 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.
  • 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
  • 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online. More than 1 in 3 have done it more than once.
  • 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

What’s SafetyWeb?

From every action there comes a reaction. In this case, it is the much needed development of a website, SafetyWeb, that specializes in helping parents protect their children from the cyberbullies. SafetyWeb helps parents guard their children’s reputation, privacy & safety online by monitoring:

  • Your child’s public activity online.
  • What is being said about your child.
  • What photos/videos your child shares.
  • What kind of “friends” your child has.

How does SafetyWeb help?

SafetyWeb provides you with the tools you need to stay on top of the “social web” and empowers parents to engage their children about how to interact online safely. SafetyWeb keep parents informed of all the various networks out there via text messaging, email, or the app downloaded to their cell phone. SafetyWeb let parents know when they find anything that might warrant further exploration. While nothing can replace the responsibility a parent has to communicate with their child, SafetyWeb can help by making sure that you are in the know about the world they live in.

Who is SafetyWeb?

SafetyWeb is the first service created by the very people who have created some of the biggest online services out there! Our founders have not only worked on web sites that combined service over 200 million registered users, but they have also assisted in the arrest and prosecution of sex offenders! Even if you are not concerned about online predators, bear in mind that everything that your child does online leaves a trail, a trail that universities and employers are likely to stumble upon.

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