Girl Scouts Knocks on Microsoft's Door: Taking Cyberbullying to Task

 We love the Girl Scouts.  They are one group that keeps up with the times.  Today marks the launch of a collaboration between the Girls Scouts and Microsoft, called LMK: Life Online. In texting jargon that means “Let Me Know.”

The campaign includes a website for girls (13-17), and an e-newsletter for parents.

This seems rather timely given the news of MySpace’s 90,000 members who are allegedly registered sex offenders.  But that stat, which has been questioned, doesn’t account for other sexual lurkers and the run-of-the-mill cyberbully (usually a peer).  Indeed, this campaign addresses an all too common childhood experience of online harassment and empowers girls to be vigilant with a variety online lessons (So what does a sexual predator look like anyway?).  The program covers safety with social networking, too.

Cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” This includes name calling, spreading gossip or sensitive information, threats, teasing, sexual harassment, being ignored or disrespected, and being deceived by a bully who is misrepresenting him or herself. 

More then half of teens have been exposed to a cyberbully. At least a third of high school students admit to posting hurtful things about others.  It’s a real problem that calls for repeating lessons traditionally taught about playground antics, e.g., understanding the role of bully, bystander and victim -- but with the digital twist.

Let’s hope the Boy Scouts get on board, too. Originally published on www.BodiMojo.com/blog (Feb 12, 2009).