Being Popular Doesn’t Protect Teens From Bullying

New research from The University of California, Davis and Pennsylvania State University indicates that becoming more popular can actually increase a teen's risk of getting bullied rather than making them immune to attack. Researchers found, using 4200 high school students in North Carolina as subjects, that as kids climb the social rungs, they are more likely to bully and be bullied – or at least until they reach the top. The top 4 percent of the social elite were above the fray, the study found. These students weren't likely to be bullied, nor were they likely to bully others. "They have less incentive to be aggressive because they have nowhere else to climb," Professor Bob Faris wrote. "They have the luxury of being nice to everyone."

Faris also indicated that the important takeaway for parents is that they can’t assume that teenagers who seem relatively well adjusted and have a lot of friends are in the clear.This study is a reminder that it's worth checking in on them even though everything appears to be going along just fine.  Another insight is that the best way to combat bullying, may be to teach kids that social rank doesn't matter, and fighting your way to the top while putting down others isn't worth it, Faris says.

Yik Yak App Digitally Excluded From Schools

When we last covered the Yik Yak social app in this blog , it was creating havoc on high school campuses as an anonymous weapon of chaos and bullying. The app, which uses GPS location data to bring comments to a user's feed from other users nearby, was envisioned as a "virtual bulletin board," or a messaging system that would serve as a blank slate for random thoughts or postings. Unfortunately though, high schoolers did not seem to be able to handle that kind of anonymous power so the creators took some bold steps to intervene.

First, they got an expedited review on the Apple site that allowed them to quickly change the app's age rating to 17+ (parents take note: you can place restrictions on under-17-year-old children's phones that block them from downloading apps based on this rating). Second, they found a company that helped them apply "geo-fences" -- or virtual geographic perimeters – that allowed them to block students from being able to use the app when on or near a school. As of now, 85% of the high schools in the US have been blocked. (If your school hasn’t, you can contact Yik Yak directly and one of its owners will manually input the school's location.) It is an interesting fix – and it will be fascinating to see what it does to Yik Yak, it’s popularity, and what requests schools may make to have other apps similarly disrupted.

Teachers and The Battle Over Social Media

Parents, students, and teachers seem to be in a constant battle about what to do about social media these days. Jim Dillion, Director the Center for Leadership and Bullying Preventation, though, offers an alternative view to consider for those who see the rise of social media as a negative force that replaces human-to-human connection with a virtual one.Instead of viewing social media and technology as a problem that needs fixing in order to re-establish the status quo, he proposes that teachers embrace it as a way to learn something about students, their needs, and how they might be better educated. Parents may also find they have a different view of social media and kids after reading the reflection points he includes in the article. It’s well worth the time.

Share Your Bullying Story

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and CNN is offering those who have been bullied, the parent of someone who has been bullied, or just someone who just has a strong opinion on the subject to submit a short video (under 2 minutes) or a written story accompanied by an original photo to share your thoughts on what you have experienced and how the problem can be stopped. You could be featured in CNN’s coverage of bullying this month and help raise awareness of bullying and the psychological damage it can cause.

What Does Bullying Really Mean?

Are we overusing the word bullying? Applying it to situations that don’t merit the use of the word? Educators, lawmakers, parents, and children continue to try to make sense of it, even as it evolved with the latest social network. But, along the way, people sometimes confuse bullying with the unfortunate -- but normal -- moments of angry, thoughtless, or hurtful behavior. And sometimes, when it's not really bullying, kids miss out on a chance to learn to cope with minor conflicts on their own. Bullying is an evolving issue on a variety of levels and is the subject of an article entitled, "Are we too quick to cry 'bully'?", on the CNN website.

Social Media Still the Biggest Bullying Issue One District Reports

As the Collingswood NJ Board of Education reported recently, social media still seems to be one of the biggest mechanisms for bullying of school age children. They are not alone.  According to data published by the New Jersey Department of Education, more than 12,000 documented incidents of bullying occurred in the state in 2011-12.

Googling Campaign Contributions

Who knew you could Google regular folks’ political campaign contributions? Take a look at this article from The New York Times etiquette column and find out what kind of adult bullying can take place after such information is obtained. (It is not just kids.) It does reinforce the notion that almost anything can be found out about you online. So, does this mean we should all contribute anonymously from now on or be prepared to take the heat?

Anti-Bullying Brochure

Think Twice Play Nice is a downloadable guide that uses children’s literature to help combat bullying. Targeted for use by teachers, students, librarians, and other school personnel, the publication urges students to stand up against those who aren’t being kind and respectful. Ideas are given for all age students and are tied to Common Core standards. Literature included in the guide ranges from Bootie Barker Bites, for ages 4 to 8, to The Orange Houses, for ages 14 and up. This excellent resource features information about books to use for different age students and reluctant readers, books such as Bullyproof Your Child for Life for parents, and thought-provoking books for young adult students. It’s a must for teachers of language arts and teachers who are looking for ways to help students better understand the consequences of bullying, whether online or offline. It is something good to point out to your school.

Anti-Bullying Funds Available in NJ

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation that provides $1 million to help school districts implement an anti-bullying law. Districts will be required to seek free anti-bullying training before being eligible for the state grants. The state's anti-bullying law was adopted in 2010 following the cyberbullying of a Rutgers University student and his subsequently committing suicide. His roommate, who used a web cam to observe his roommate having sex, has since been convicted of a hate crime for his part in the affair. The anti-bullying law debuted to mixed results this year. A survey of a dozen school districts found that  it is being used often, but some school officials called it a "bureaucratic nightmare," and some parents said it did not resolve problems for their children.

Bullying in Physical Education and Sports

Having had a child who was bullied on a sports team, I was very pleased to see the American Association for Physical Education and Recreation’s article “Reducing Risk Associated with Bullying in Sport, Recreation, and Physical Education Programs” discusses research related to bullying and offers nine Risk Management Tips. The tips include establishing a “strict, zero-tolerance anti-bullying/harassment policy”; educating teachers, parents and others who work with students about bullying; having those involved in athletics sign a contract that they understand the anti-bullying policy and are aware of the penalties for not abiding by the contract; taking  “[s]trong disciplinary and  corrective measures ... for known cases of bullying”; supervising all activities carefully; establishing a reporting system; being aware of legislation related to bullying; keeping records of bullying incidents; and continuing to evaluate bullying/harassment policies. The article (Safety Notebook, 11/2010) is available on the AAPAR site for $1 for members and $  2 for non-members.