Today’s teens use technology to play online games, download music, e-mail and instant message. Many create personal profiles on MySpace, Facebook or other social networking sites.

As teens continue to build a second existence online, parents and guardians need to be aware that bullying and anti-social behavior both translate from the “real” world to the Web. Just as bullies take advantage of weakness to harm kids on the playground, cyberbullies are invading this second existence to harm kids online.

Qwest and the Qwest Foundation® have partnered with Seattle Public Schools to help.

What’s New:

Cyberbullying Prevention Guide – From home to the homeroom, parents, guardians and teachers can work together to prevent cyberbullying. Download a free guide to learn how you can help.

Top Five Tips for Getting Started

• Understand cyberbullying – cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.
• Talk to your kids – encourage students to speak up, empower students to overcome hurtful activity, eliminate the “code of silence” and remove cyberbullying as a harmful barrier to education.
• Review school policies – many school districts have anti-bullying rules and policies to address cyberbullying. Download Seattle Public Schools’ standards-based cyberbullying prevention curriculum at <LINK> that can be used as a model for your child’s school.
• Set and discuss boundaries – actively teach safety, set a good example and monitor online activity for signs of cyberbullying.
• Recognize the signs – when students are bullied in real life and online, involvement in school activities may diminish. Grades may slip. Before long, the student may dread going to school.

Meet Mike Donlin:

Mike Donlin is Senior Program Consultant with the Seattle’s public schools, where he has taught since 1980, and manages several federal and state grant programs. Among them are bully-prevention programs, with an emphasis on Internet safety and cyberbullying.

In 2007, Donlin was instrumental in encouraging the Washington State Legislature to pass a bill establishing an advisory committee on cyberbullying and electronic harassment.

In addition to establishing the advisory committee, the state legislation also mandated the production of materials for parents on preventing cyberbullying and harassment. Mike has presented these materials to his fellow educators in Seattle and to other groups, including the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni.

During his 30-year career, Mike has taught all grade levels from Kindergarten through university. He has an undergraduate degree in education and a graduate degree in linguistics. Donlin is also a member of Qwest’s Online Safety Coalition in Seattle.