Stop Cyberbullying Website

Website Details

  This website was created by the corporation Wired Kids and is headed by Parry Aftab and the Wired Kids Inc. boards and committees. Parry Aftab is a security, privacy, and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. She is considered a world wide leader in the area of online safety and child Internet education. This group was awarded the President's Service Award from the White House and Points of Light Foundation. Stopcyberbullying.org provides children ages 7-17 years old and parents and caregivers information on cyberbullying. Sections offer details on what cyberbulling is, how it works, why people cyberbully, how to prevent it, how to take action, and what is the law against cyberbullying. There are also different icons that have information divided into age groups, parents and caregivers, educators, and law enforcement. Kids can also download a game called Alex Wonder Kid Cyberdetective to help stop cyberbullying.

Review

  This was such an easy to use website and it had a great simple interface with little distraction. All of the information was updated and factual as well as witty and appropriate for the different ages. I loved that aside from the important bullet points, sections were also broken down by age group. This allowed each age group to obtain information that was at their level, received information that pertained to them, and subject matter than interested them. Both parents and their children can search this website together and have starting points to engage conversation. Some subjects offer short quizzes and scenarios that open up kids and parents to conversation in a non threatening way. The icing on the cake was the downloadable game that appeals to the tween group and my daughter found it fun, easy to use, and got important points across about the dangers of cyberbullying.

Interest Age/Reading Level

7 years old- Adult/ 7 years old-adult

WiredKids Inc. (2011). Stop bullying. Retrieved from http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/contact_us.html.

Gay-Straight Alliance Network

Website Details
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Network, founded in 1998, is a youth organization that was created to ensure safe environments in schools for students to support each other and fight against discrimination, harassment, and bullying in schools.  Middle schools report that more youth are coming out or questioning sexuality at younger ages across the country.  Research shows that students with GSA clubs at their schools feel safer and more supported from peers and staff.

Review
A comprehensive website that gives a history about the GSA Network and information about the student-run club on what they are doing to provide a safe place for socialization and to fight against homophobia.  Additionally, information is given on the steps to take so students can start their own GSA clubs to create safer school environments.  News, events, and resources are provided so students can get involved.
 
Interest Age/Reading Level
Suitable for grades 7-12

Gay-Straight Alliance Network. (2011). Gay-Straight Alliance Network. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://gsanetwork.org/

Pacer Kids Against Bullying

Website Details
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) presents Kids Against Bullying, an interactive website where kids can get information on how to fight bullying.  The website includes Games and Fun, Contests, Watch This, Kids Say, and Smart Stuff.  Games and Fun has scrabble and word find games along with tales about bullying.  The Contest section has entries for poetry and artwork.  Kids Say features videos and real stories from other tweens.  Smart Stuff talks about what bullying is and isn't, who does it and why, and what you can do to spot it and stop it.  The site even offers a place to take a pledge and sign a petition showing you are against bullying.

Review
An informative site that event features Demi Lovato, Disney star from Sonny with a Chance and Camp Rock.  Demi, who was bullied in middle school, tells how she overcame verbal harassment and bullying to become the strong person she is today. Demi encourages everyone to help put an end to bullying.

Interest Age/Reading Level
Suitable for grades 3-7, older tweens can also visit  http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/

kidsAgainstBullying. (2011). kidsAgainstBullying. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.

Love is Louder

Website Details
Created by actress Brittany Snow,The Jed Foundation and MTV in support of the many tragic teen  suicides in September 2010, #Love is Louder shouts out that love and support are powerful weapons.  Brittany, who herself was bullied and mistreated in middle school, offers encouragement to speak out against bullying. The website includes pictures, shirts, and videos that support the Love is Louder campaign. While many celebrities from Pink to Kellan Lutz from Twilight have made love is louder videos, anyone can join in by uploading a brief video (30 seconds or less) at http://your.mtv.com/ or by joining in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter* . 

Review 
Sometimes you can not stop the internal and external voices that bring you down, but remember love is louder! Included on the website are many valuable resources that can help you deal with harassment, depression or thoughts of suicide.

Interest Age/Reading Level
Suitable for more mature tweens, grades 6-8.

Love is Louder. (2010). Love is Louder. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from http://www.loveislouder.com/

Bullying. No Way!

Website Details

Bullying. No Way! is an educational program for Australia.  The site has several things to check out including Who are We?, The Issues, Talk Out, Resources, Chill Out Space, and Ideas Box.  Chill Out Space is the spot that tweens will want to check out.  Chill Out Space includes The Facts, Make a Difference, Write It!, Paint It!, The Arcade, Contribute, Write it! Workshop, and Junior Chill Out.  The Facts is split into four areas: power, bullying and harassment, discrimination, and violence.  Bullying and Harassment gives facts about the different types of bullying.  Make a difference includes information about what you can do to prevent or stop bullying.  Write It! And Paint It! display poems, stories, or paintings from tweens who have been bullied.  In Write It! Workshop tweens can write about their thoughts on any of the manners discussed. 

Review
This web site is a great educational tool for teachers to share with students.  It also provides teachers with information that is needed. 


Interest Age/Reading Level

I believe that this is appropriate for 4^th through 8^th grade.   

Australian Education Authorities. (2011). Bullying. No way! Retrieved from http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/default.shtml.

StopBullying.gov

Website Details
This website sponsored by the U.S. government is managed by the Department of Health & Human Services in partnership with the Department of Education and Department of Justice.    It is divided into sections for Kids, Teens, Young Adults, Parents and Educators.  Focusing on the Teens section, the reader is given several options to browse for understanding what bullying is, how to recognize warning signs and very important - how to get help. Another option within this section is similar to other books, websites and videos featured here which is how to take a stand against bullying. Some of the key ideas presented here include: “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their school and community.” “Take a stand and do not join in.” “Do not watch someone being bullied.” “Support the person being bullied.” “Talk to an adult you trust.”  Other valuable features of the website are a link to a video from the March 10, 2011 White House conference on bullying prevention, links to other online resources, research papers on bullying, a section on Cyberbullying, a Youth Leader toolkit and a section on youth LGBT bullying.
Review
The fact that the United States government deems the issue of bullying significant enough to create a website devoted to it is noteworthy. This is a good basic resource and would be helpful for anyone seeking information on the topic.

Interest Age/Reading Level
This is a very valuable resource which is very user-friendly and easily recommended for tweens.

StopBullying.gov. Home | StopBullying.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2011, from http://stopbullying.gov