Online Bullying Prevention Resources for Teens, Parents and Educators

Safety plays a big role in teen health (physically and mentally). Even though schools and workplaces have made their spaces more safe with policies and laws to prevent bullying, it sadly still happens, and especially online. Here are some helpful resources to learn more about how you can protect yourself and others.

For Teens:

• Channel Kindness: Lady Gaga's Born this Way Foundation created a safe space for teens to share stories of kindness, resilience and community (demonstrating there is good in the world, not just hate, and love is stronger).
• Hat Not Hate: This anti-bullying campaign encourages all to get involved in raising community awareness and standing up to bullying through blue hats. #hatnothate 
• It Gets Better: This nonprofit project has many opportunities to get involved in the world's largest effort to empower and uplift LGBTQ+ youth, including downloadable guides, videos and more. 
• In the Mix: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the nationwide not-for-profit organization, has a menu of videos to watch form their In their award-winning TV series for teens by teens.
• Stomp Out Bullying: This national nonprofit organization is committed to reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying and digital abuse with ways to get help or help, including new resources related to Asian-Hate crimes and LGBTQIA+ discrimination.
• A Thin Line: MTV has collected stories of bullying, digital cruelty and other unhealthy ways of interaction so you can educate and empower yourself by taking control.

For Parents and Educators:

• Connect Safely: Even though this site is aimed more at parents, it has some great and informative posts about being safe online - from cancel culture, cyberbullying and toxic conversations to gaming, you'll find content to support open conversations about how to stay and feel safe.
• Keeping Children Safe Online: This U.S. Department of Justice site is directed towards parents, however, it has some useful tips you can read independently about best practices for engaging online, such as setting boundaries and avoiding sharing personal information.
• Netsmartz.org: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a treasure-trove of free resources (tip sheets, videos, lesson plans, discussion guides) for parents and educators, children and teens on cyberbullying, sexting, digital citizenship and being safe online
• Stop Bullying.gov: This U.S. government site informs teens how to identify and stand up to bullying safely, including videos, a blog and research.