Teenage Olympic diver Tom Daly is the latest victim to speak out against bullying. He said he has not been to school since Easter because he was being bullied. Sadly, bullying continues to be a problem in schools, colleges and universities, and bullies have found a new way to make their victims suffer, by targeting them online.
Cybermentors
Thanks to Beatbullying, students can get help online, through their new peer mentoring project Cybermentors. Those suffering at the hands of cyber bullies can seek immediate help and advice online from other young people.
Cyber bullying is when one person or a group of people threaten, tease or embarrass someone by using a mobile phone, the internet or other technologies. CyberMentors offer advice and support, but in severe cases where someone could be in immediate danger, will refer them to Beatbullying cyber counsellors, who will take appropriate action to protect the individual from further attacks.
More than 50,000 young people have registered to Cybermentors since its launch in March.
Julianne’s story
Julianne Flory (18) was a victim of bullying at school. Beatbullying helped her to overcome the distress caused by the bullies. Read her story.
Julianne’s ordeal started with an argument after a basketball game. One girl continued to bully her, and the problem escalated from name-calling to physical assaults. The incidences were not limited to the confines of the school, however, and the bullying continued externally.
At the peak of her torture, when she was 15, Julianne received a series of vicious messages and online postings via her MySpace profile. One of the most vitriolic read “I just want you to know what a fat, evil, sadistic cow you are. I want to see you suffer as slow and painful a death as possible.” The bully’s message of insults and threats ran to over a page.
Online support
When Julianne began receiving anonymous insults and threats via MySpace, she contacted Beatbullying. Julianne became withdrawn, angry and upset. Each time Julianne received an abusive message online, she would contact Beatbullying with a copy of the message, and a member of staff was able to offer support and advice.
Over a significant period of time, Beatbullying enabled Julianne to tell her learning mentor. Ultimately, with the support of her learning mentor and Beatbullying, Julianne was able to overcome her experiences. The learning mentor had an idea of who the perpetrator might be, and the messages stopped.
Julianne is now a student and has no contact with her bully, but continues to work with Beatbullying to increase awareness of bullying and help others who are experiencing similar problems to those that she was able to overcome.
Become a mentor
If you’re interested in becoming a CyberMentor, or if you’re looking for advice and tips on how to beat cyber bullying, or are just looking for someone to talk to online about your problems then go to www.cybermentors.org.uk, the social networking site run by young people for young people.