The problem of bullying has risen to dangerous and lethal levels in many parts of the country. Some of the populations most at risk are young girls in middle school who may be struggling with self esteem, friendships and status. All forms of media are to blame for fueling this mindset including advertisements, music,TV, and magazines. This media tends to show that popularity and success only comes with buying the right products or looking a certain way.
In the schools bullying by boys and girls is on the rise. This article provides a solid example (FaceBook) of how social media sites can be drawn into the battle. Social media and text messaging can add to this mayhem when pictures and comments can be posted in a negative way and then can go viral. Talk to your kids about bullying and fighting. Supervise their use of social media networking sites carefully so they understand the impact of their words and action.
One organization in Madison that is fighting for the hearts and minds of young girls is www.Projectgirl.org. @ProjectGirl is a national grassroots effort to teach trainers and educators, including the girls themselves, how to de-mediafy their lives through the use of art and video.
Find ProjectGirl on Facebook and Youtube under ProjectGirlUSA
Local Madison social media groups - Social Media Breakfast Madison and Social Media Club of Madison are working to educate each other. Members can support educating schools about the positives and negatives of social media by offering a program on social media to your local school.
Facebook posting causes street brawl, police say
A 13-year-old girl's Facebook posting of another girl's photo
side by side with a large young actress' photo erupted into a
street fight on Madison's southeast side Monday night, with upwards
of 15 people, mostly teen girls and women, duking it out, police
said.
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