Bullying has attracted a massive amount of media attention lately, and for good reason. Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to psychological and sociological pressure, and at a time when they should feel perfectly safe and nurtured, they are being abused and threatened.

It seems like bullying is getting harder and harder to detect and control as well, rather than easier. Many experts think that this is because of the internet, and the ease with which social media puts children in touch with one another.

In years past, bullying was hard to get away with. It was usually either a physical altercation in school or on the bus, or walking home, and adults are usually right nearby for most of those times.

Nowadays, however, bullying is increasingly done online and in private messages. It is happening in ways that adults are either having a hard time monitoring, or completely unable to monitor. Couple that with the fact that children who are the victims of bullying are often embarrassed about it and are not likely to seek help, and you have a recipe for disaster.

One of the biggest problems when it comes to stopping cyberbullying is cooperation from parents. Parents should be monitoring everything their child does online, and if they notice any problems with bullying, they should report them to the school principle and, if necessary, the police.

Schools, which are generally the first line of defense for most adolescent bullying, are finding it increasingly hard to take any action. Most of the bullying happens away from school computers, so their ability to monitor and control the situation is relatively low.

Some schools have instituted a cell phone ban, not allowing any phones on campus at all. Some other schools have created education programs to help children realize the ramifications of what they’re doing. Some schools have even instituted what they call “bully buttons” so that students can anonymously report bullying.

Studies have shown that between 25-30% of students experience bullying in middle school and high school; the number doesn’t change much between 8^th graders and seniors. Clearly bullying is still a rampant problem with serious consequences, but with a little increased attention from parents and a more open attitude about bullying education, hopefully the epidemic can be reduced and eventually stopped altogether.

Even if the bullying and injuries do not rise to a level to justify the expense of hiring an attorney, there are things that you can do to put a stop to it. Here are some helpful Resources on Bullying:

Public Justice’s Anti-School Bullying Campaign

Government’s Anti-School Bullying Campaign