“Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. There are no guarantees that what works for one person will work for another, yet you can take steps to increase your safety.” — National Center for Victims of Crime For the first time in four and a half years, I hope to have … Continue reading Stalking, Safety Plans, and Dreams of a Life without Fear
Cyberbullying Prevention
Digital Gossip: How It Leads to Cyberbullying
By Sue Scheff Gossip can be mean, especially when it’s online. Bullies can build on gossip and create stories and ugliness about a student that can go viral in seconds. In today’s internet age, gossip can be spread at lightning speed to hundreds, thousands or millions of people. The new party line is cyberspace where millions of people … Continue reading Digital Gossip: How It Leads to Cyberbullying
How to talk with your kids about social media safety
By Jennifer Bridges, Reputation Defender There are certain risks involved in using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter—and these risks are especially dangerous for young people, who may not be aware of these threats or fully understand their consequences. As such, all parents should teach their children how to stay safe on the Internet. … Continue reading How to talk with your kids about social media safety
Are You a Target of Online Harassment?
By Sue Scheff Don't feed the trolls. We’ve heard this over and over again. It is a phrase that tells us not to engage with people online that are intentionally inflicting harm and cruelty towards others. In today’s culture of digital cruelty and online shaming, no one is immune to online harassment. For years we have read … Continue reading Are You a Target of Online Harassment?
How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 3)
Originally posted on Reputation Defender, by Jennifer Bridges What to do if your child is a cyberbully? It’s hard to not overreact when you discover that your child is harassing others. But, the best way to move forward is to stay calm and make a plan of action that includes: The people involved: Obviously, you and your … Continue reading How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 3)
How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 2)
Originally posted on Reputation Defender, by Jennifer Bridges What can you do to prevent cyberbullying? American parents worry about bullying/cyberbullying more than any other health issue that might affect their children—including drug abuse and pregnancy—according to the 2017 C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Luckily, there are things you can do to lessen the … Continue reading How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 2)
How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 1)
Originally posted on Reputation Defender, by Jennifer Bridges One of the first cases of cyberbullying (online harassment) was that of Ryan Halligan, a 13-year-old autistic boy from New Jersey, who hung himself in 2003 after receiving an onslaught of cruel and humiliating online messages from his classmates. Sadly, stories like his—once unimaginable—are now increasingly common. According to a Pew … Continue reading How to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying (Part 1)
Forgiveness Is A Choice
Forgiveness seems hard to come by today, when perhaps it’s what some of us need most. Not for those in need of forgiveness, but for those of us in a position to forgive. Some people have questioned my forgiveness, with comments and questions like, I could never forgive someone who did those things to me.I … Continue reading Forgiveness Is A Choice
My Real Top Nine of 2018
From cyberbullying prevention advocacy to health and wellness and so much more, 2018 was one of my best years yet. While many of us are enjoying Instagrammers’ most liked pictures for the year, as our feeds our flooded with #TopNine2018 posts, I realize my Top Nine are not photos at all. They're moments, accomplishments, and … Continue reading My Real Top Nine of 2018
Impersonation with the Intent to Cause Harm
Four years ago today, the online harassment against me intensified with impersonation accounts. I watched in horror as strangers, friends, family, and professional connections were contacted and exposed to horrific lies. The imposter accounts were accompanied by defamatory comments, blogs, posts on third-party websites, threats of violence, hate speech, round-the-clock ridicule, and hundreds of direct … Continue reading Impersonation with the Intent to Cause Harm