As you know, I mostly answer questions from you in this spot. Today, though, I am bringing some answers from a great source.
Robbie Richards contacted me from Rawhide Boys Ranch. Rawhide is a non-profit that helps families and at-risk youth from all over Wisconsin. Robbie is part of their content team, and they created this infographic.
Many parents hand their kids a device and, as one mom put it to me, “Then I hold my breath hoping he won’t get hurt – or be a jerk.” Parents, teachers, youth development professionals, and teens need to know what’s happening and then get skills to make it better.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the images, I asked Robbie to highlight a few of the most important points. Here’s what he told me:
Cyberbullying has become a major issue for children and teens across America.
Consider this:
~72% of teens have been victim of cyberbullying in the last year
~25% have been been repeatedly bullied online
Despite it’s prevalence, just 1 in 6 parents are aware their children are being targeted. Why?
Teens choose not to report being bullied because they feel ashamed or are worried how parents will get involved or what they might do. This causes some major issues. As many as 3 million children skip school each month because of online bullying and 41% report feeling depressed as a result. Don’t stress, there’s help! And tell me what you’ve experienced with teaching your kids about cyber bullying?
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