Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral

by Justin W. Patchin, Sameer Hinduja

Overview

Vicious words and damaging photos exchanged through texts, email, or social media can result in humiliation, broken friendships, punishment at school, and even legal prosecution. In some cases, online harassment has contributed to suicide. Written by experts in cyberbullying prevention, this book provides strategies for teens dealing with cyberbullying as well as for those who have taken part in bullying others. This book gives teens the tools they need to keep themselves safe online, protect their digital reputations, and make their schools and their communities kinder places.

Available Online – Free Leader’s Guide freespirit.com/leader

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781575424514
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	12/03/2013
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 5.98(h) x 0.47(d)
Lexile:	1060L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., is a professor of criminal justice in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. He has presented at the White House and has appeared on CNN and NPR and in Time and The New York Times to discuss issues related to teens’ use and misuse of technology. Dr. Patchin is the author (with Dr. Hinduja) of Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard, Cyberbullying Prevention and Response, and School Climate 2.0. He lives in Wisconsin.

Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. He is recognized internationally for his groundbreaking work on the subjects of cyberbullying and safe social networking. He works with the U.S. Department of Education and many state departments of education to improve their policies on preventing and responding to teen technology misuse. Dr. Hinduja is the author (with Dr. Patchin) of Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard, Cyberbullying Prevention and Response, and School Climate 2.0. He lives in Florida.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why We Wrote This Book

Why Us?

How to Use This Book

We Want to Hear from You

Part One: Cyberbullying—What You Need to Know

Chapter 1: The Scoop on Cyberbullying 13

• What Is Cyberbullying?
• How Common Is Cyberbullying?
• Bullying in Person vs. Cyberbullying
• The Consequences
• Most Teens Don’t Cyberbully

Chapter 2: What to Do If You’re Being Cyberbullied

• Tools at Your Fingertips

1. Keep a Journal
2. Save the Evidence
3. Never Retaliate
4. Talk About It
5. Ignore It
6. Laugh It Off
7. Speak Up
8. Block the Bullying
9. Report It
10. When to Call the Police

• Don’t Give Up
• You’re Not to Blame
• Thoughts of Suicide
• Stay Strong

Part Two: Treating Others with Respect and Protecting Yourself

Chapter 3: Pause Before You Post

• Think First
• Act with Integrity—Online and Off
• Don’t Let Differences Divide
• Watch Your Words
• What Your School Can Do
• Know Your Rights
• Answering to the Police
• Tracing Digital Footprints
• Use Your Head (and Your Heart)

Chapter 4: Start Standing Up, Not Standing By

• Be There
• Build a Group Effort
• Crush Cruel Content
• Talk to a Trusted Adult
• Record It and Report It
• Anonymous Reporting at School
• Step Up, Speak Up, Stand Up

Chapter 5: Stay Smart and Stay Safe

• 12 Tips for Protecting Yourself

1. Be Careful with Content
2. The Internet Never Forgets
3. Google Yourself
4. Keep Tabs on Your Digital Reputation
5. Never Respond to Mysterious Messages
6. Always Log Out
7. Protect Your Password
8. Guard Your Goods
9. Be Picky About Your Privacy
10. Location, Location, Location
11. Think Before You Friend or Follow
12. Catfishing

• Take Control

Part Three: Building a Culture of Kindness

Chapter 6: Delete Cyberbullying

• Become an Expert
• Research the Problem
• Get the Scoop at Your School
• Review the Rules
• Take Action!
• Join the Club
• Be a Mentor
• Walk the Walk
• Make an Announcement
• Host a Poetry Slam
• Take Center Stage
• Move Beyond Your School
• Speak Up
• Write a Letter to the Editor
• Get Political
• Take the First Step

Chapter 7: Make Kindness Go Viral

• Promote Kindness at Your School and Beyond
• Reach Out
• Make Art with a Message
• Take the Pledge
• Form a Flash Mob
• Be Creative
• Use Memes for Good, Not Evil
• Build an App
• Craft a Comic
• Random Acts of Online Kindness
• Get Social
• Nice It Forward
• Don’t Wait

Acknowledgments

Index

About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

 “This authoritative book has the potential to change behavior and influence social media interaction involving both teens and adults . . . Words Wound belongs in every library and classroom, anywhere that a bullied or bullying teen could find it easily and quickly.”—VOYA(Highlighted Review)


 

 “Words Wound is the first book that has been specifically written for teens to help them confront cyberbullying. Whether they are being targeted, see cyberbullying happening to others, or want to promote kindness within their schools, this book provides practical and proven advice on issues teens face every single day. Parents need to buy this book, read it, and share its wisdom with their children. Working together, parents and teens can be a solution to the problem of cyberbullying, and Words Wound can help guide those conversations.”—Dr. Michele Borba, internationally recognized parenting and bullying expert and author of 22 books including Building Moral Intelligence

 “It’s easy to think cyberbullying is out of everyone’s control. This book will show teens how they can use their power and influence to stem the tide of cruelty and replace it with a culture of kindness. These authors know everything there is to know about cyberbullying, and their strategies are realistic and smart. Read this book!”—Rachel Simmons, author of the New York Times best seller Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls

“In today’s society, we need to equip our children with the knowledge and resources they need to combat the underbelly of cyberspace. Not only can this book be considered your teen's handbook to prevent cyber-cruelty, it will empower them to be cyber-mentors. Words Wound is the most important book you can purchase today!”—Sue Scheff, author of Google Bomb and Wit’s End: Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out-of-Control Teen

“This powerful resource teaches students effective social networking skills and provides educators with insights to help teens manage their online reputations and lives.”—Patrick Mott, teen social media expert

“Words Wound empowers people of all ages to recognize cyberbullying and delete it from social behavior. Words Wound not only addresses the origins of bullying, but also provides effective strategies to combat it, proven through research and personal testimonies from targets of bullying. There couldn’t be a more effective book when it comes to understanding, identifying, and combatting bullying in any form.”—Kevin Curwick, creator of @OsseoNiceThings and founder of the “Nice It Forward” movement

“Words Wound is written with young adults in mind, but has a tremendous amount of value for anyone who deals with teenagers . . . A great book to go through as a family.”—Volume One

From the Publisher

This authoritative book has the potential to change behavior and influence social media interaction involving both teens and adults. The authors use actual interviews and case studies with victims of cyberbullying to craft suggestions for counteracting, preventing, and battling cyberbullying. The book can be read straight through, or the reader can select the most relevant segments. The three parts include cyberbullying facts, a guide for creating a culture of kindness and respect, and ideas for action in schools and communities. If the reader is being cyberbullied, chapter 2 examines what you can do if you are a victim and are being harassed, including legal ramifications, while chapter 5 describes ways to behave online to reduce risk and safeguard your reputation. The last two chapters offer a myriad of ideas for taking action at the local level, with success stories from high schools all over the country. The text is peppered with heartbreaking stories from teens, along with quotes from famous people including Dr. Seuss, President Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, and Stephen Colbert. Each chapter ends with a “Status Update,” a self-evaluation of the reader’s attitudes and experiences, which could lead to provocative discussions with a group of adolescents. The authors include an invitation to help them in their work at the Cyberbullying Research Center through their website, [e-mail]. Words Wound belongs in every library and classroom, anywhere that a bullied or bullying teen could find it easily and quickly. Reviewer: Judith A. Hayn; Ages 11 to 18.

VOYA, June 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 2) - Judith A. Hayn