You've probably heard the phrase "kill 'em with kindness" for disarming detractors, well in social media it's more like swamping – flooding – public, sometimes collective, cruelty with kindness, acceptance, respect, etc. That was a powerful tactic used by students I wrote about in Part 1 of this series, but it has been practiced to huge ripple effect by students in Nova Scotia, Iowa, Minnesota, … [Read more...] about ‘Compassion mobs’ & other digital-age nonviolence stands
bullying
‘Bullying’ & ‘peer victimization’: Clearer terms, better communication
I suspect two reasons why people (mistakenly) think cyberbullying is on the rise are… Its increased visibility: Cruel words and behaviors are unprecedentedly public now, because of the social Web, so that's what's actually growing – the exposure – which is sometimes confused with the behavior itself. The confusion needs to be cleared up. The exposure may be scary, but it's a net gain because … [Read more...] about ‘Bullying’ & ‘peer victimization’: Clearer terms, better communication
Bullying still > cyberbullying, but most kids do neither
Researchers keep coming up with different numbers, but what doesn't change is that… Most kids do not engage in bullying or cyberbullying There's considerable overlap between online and offline aggression among kids who do Bullying is not on the rise, but there's more of it going on than cyberbullying The prevalence of cyberbullying has been widely overstated. "Reports of a … [Read more...] about Bullying still > cyberbullying, but most kids do neither
The highly problematic term ‘cyberbullycide’
Don't use it, and be skeptical of any so-called authority who does use it. "Cyberbullycide" (or "bullycide") is not clever, is not accurate, and its use could be harmful. Among other reasons why it isn't accurate (see this by prevention specialist Patti Agatston), the term suggests that cyberbullying is the sole cause of a suicide, and suicide prevention experts tell us that "suicidal behavior is … [Read more...] about The highly problematic term ‘cyberbullycide’
Bullying: Reasons why kids don’t tell their parents
A lot of adults wonder why kids don't often tell a parent or "trusted adult" they're experiencing bullying, and what Aaron Cheese, 15, told his mom, finally, after years of dealing with it in silence, probably strikes a chord with a lot of young people: "He said it was that he didn't want to bring that home. Like, he wanted to walk in the door and just be a normal, regular kid," his mother, Jean … [Read more...] about Bullying: Reasons why kids don’t tell their parents