It’s #NationalBullyPrevention Month. How are students Cyberbacking?
In today’s world, screens make it easier than ever to type something without thinking about how it makes others feel. In fact, 60% of students nationwide report seeing cyberbullying.
October marks National Bullying Prevention Month, and students, educators, and families across the country are reflecting on how we all play a role when it comes to protecting one another from bullying, both online and offline.
So what is cyberbullying? The Cyberbullying Research Center defines it as “when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.”
National Bullying Prevention Month creates space for important dialogue in schools, promotes kindness in our communities, and encourages students to speak up if they are victims of bullying or see it in action.
How students and schools use social media to raise awareness about bullying
So far, #BullyingPreventionMonth has amassed over 58.1 million views on TikTok, as students and social media users all over the world are coming together to share their stories about bullying. Some users are sharing information about the various types of bullying, and others are sharing how we can support and speak up when we see bullying. These are all great examples of using our mic for good to come together and support an important cause.
#BullyingPreventionMonth empowers others to feel confident and speak up about bullying, especially on Unity Day.
Unity Day started in 2011 and is a day when people around the country are encouraged to wear the color orange and share the color online. The color orange is already associated with fall and the month of October and was picked to represent the universal message of bullying prevention. It is also a sign of kindness and inclusion for all.
Unity Day was started by PACER’s National Prevention Center, with the hope that together we can create a world without bullying. Unity Day will be on Wednesday, October 19th this year, so mark your calendars and set a reminder to wear orange.
Medha, a student who runs the YouTube Channel, LifeWithRainbows, created an animated video and posted it to YouTube to share what Unity Day means to her and her entire school community. In the video, Medha shares that, “Unity Day is a day where everyone comes together and is united together as a whole. We stand as a united community against bullying and other hurtful words.”
Check out the video here and click here for more information on how to get involved in Unity Day.
TSI’s Take on #NationalBullyingPrevention Month
One of the Seven Social Standards we empower students to live up to is Cyberback. This is the exact opposite of cyberbullying and means having each others’ backs and supporting each other online.
In our Grade 7 #WinAtSocial Curriculum Lesson, Handling online hate with pro tips from major gamers and TikTok stars, students learn the latest facts about bullying, signs that suggest a friend is being bullied, and strategies to support others during bullying situations.
Some of these facts, signs, and strategies we can remember when Cyberbacking are to:
- Have each others’ backs
- Look out for others
- Looking tired, having trouble focusing, or appearing less confident are just a couple of signs that someone has been bullied
- Remember you’re not alone
- Bullying is 1.5x more common in middle school than in high school
- Speak up
- 4 out of every 5 students say they’d step in and help if they saw someone being bullied online, especially if they could help anonymously.
If you haven’t already, check out our newly updated Cyberback lessons, which include trending topics impacting students, to have important discussions with your students about their role in taking a stand against cyberbullying and more.
Looking for more ways to empower your students to cyberback one another year-round, not just during National Bullying Prevention Month? Contact us today to discover how you can use our comprehensive curriculum to help students cyberback and make high-character decisions online and offline.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.