Cyberbullying & Bullying

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Cyberbullying & Bullying

  • Tips to Prevent Bullying—
    • Bullying Prevention Tip #1: Report It
      • Don’t be afraid to tell an adult. Telling isn’t tattling! You are helping someone.
        • Who should you tell? A parent, teacher, school counselor, school nurse, coach, or any adult you trust.
          • Reminder, Safe2Say South Dakota is available 24/7 if you are unable to talk to a trusted adult.
      • Be sure to tell exactly what happened: who was bullied, who the bully was, where and when it happened.
      • Even if you only suspect a kid is being bullied, it is a good idea to report that, too. Most adults do really care about bullying and will be glad that you told them about it so they can prevent it from occurring in the future.
      • If you tell an adult and you don’t think they are doing anything about the bullying or if the situation isn’t improving, tell another adult. Keep telling adults until someone does something to help.
    • Bullying Prevention Tip #2: Be a Friend to Someone Who is Being Bullied
      • When someone is down, they need a friend. Be there for the person who is being bullied. Be a buddy on school grounds, get together after school, include them in activities, walk home with them, or sit with them on the bus. Being an understanding and supportive friend means so much. Show a kid who is being bullied that you care about them.
    • Bullying Prevention Tip #3: Stand Up to the Bully
      • If you feel safe and comfortable, tell the bully that what they are doing is mean and wrong. It’s not cool and they should stop. Keep it simple.
        • For example, if someone verbally and emotionally bullies you, look them in the eye and say, “STOP IT NOW”. And then walk away. Even if they are bullying you as you walk away—keep walking.
      • Do not bully them back. If you are not comfortable standing up to the bully, tell an adult.
    • Bullying Prevention Tip #4: If You Are Left Out of a Group and Being Bullied
      • Very often someone you thought was your friend, has joined the bully’s side. While this does hurt, ask yourself, “How much of a friend could hey have really been if they’re doing this to you?”.
      • Find other friends, join groups and clubs at school. The best revenge is for you to be happy!
  • When It Comes to Bullying, Remember:
    • It’s NOT your fault. No one deserves to be bullied.
    • Don’t fight back or bully a person back. It won’t make things any better and it will probably get you into trouble. The only time to fight back is if someone is physically hurting you. At the same time, others who see this should seek help from a trusted adult.
    • Never keep the pain of being bullied to yourself. Tell someone. Tell a friend. Tell a trusted adult. Report it!!! Telling is NOT tattling.
    • Don’t skip school or avoid friends, sports, or clubs because you’re afraid of the bully. You have a right to be there just as much as the bully does.
    • No matter how bad you feel, hurting yourself or thinking about suicide is NOT the answer. Nothing is that bad. Talk with an adult and get help. [1]
  • Additional Resources—