August | 2013 | The Zorgos Reader

Here are a few anti-bullying apps that AT&T shared last year for pink shirt day to help prevent text bullying:

BullyBlock – (Apple iOS, Android – $0.99) – This app captures and block bullies that are causing you and your family harm. The Bully Block app allows users to covertly record verbal threats and harassment, block inappropriate texts and pictures (e.g. sexting), and utilize auto respond features. Bully Block blocks bullies that utilize private or unknown numbers to engage in cyberbullying. Bully Block also has instant reporting features that allow the user to email or text abusive behavior to parents, teachers, HR departments, and law enforcement. All audio, messages, and calls are stored on the phone SD card.
TipSubmitMobile – ( Apple iOS, Android – Free) – TipSubmit Mobile allows tipsters to submit secure and anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers, law enforcement agencies or school safety officers and administrators. Thousands of communities, schools and government agencies are covered by this application since it connects directly with TipSoft, the world’s largest and North America’s only, truly anonymous tip reporting system. Tipsters could receive rewards of up to $1,000 in the U.S. and up to $2,000 in Canada for information submitted to Crime Stoppers and nobody will ever know your identity.
Bully Stop – (Android – $1.29) – This app helps protect your children from bully calls, texts and picture messages. The app gives your children the ability to block calls and messages from people they don’t want to hear from. Bully Stop uses a Block List to block unwanted callers and texters. The app maintains a password-protected call log of all attempted contact with your child so you can approach the relevant people, parents, teachers or police and show proof of the bullying communication.
Bully Button – (Apple iOS – $0.99) – This application is for helping when the user is in trouble. It lets them record and send an email with audio attachment with text by tapping “Record and Send” button. Children can call a parent, friend or school by selecting appropriate options.
Rindin by CrocPond – (Apple iOS –$0.99) – This anti-bullying awareness app is based on the story and DVD Rindin. It includes an animated short movie, story book and adventure game. The app encourages children to be creative, while helping them to recognize the value of tolerance and getting along.
Bully Shield – (Apple IOS, Android – $0.99) – This app is for kids being bullied, family members who care about them, teachers and school administrators. Users can build and save an action plan to create a bully-free zone and then email the action plan to friends and family.

via Text Bullying on the Rise – Jermaine Spight’s Blog – Oakland Township-Lake Orion, MI Patch.

Our first book review from the blogosphere:

Back-to-School: Anti-Bullying Books for Parents and Kids

For some children, the return to school can be filled with dread, especially if they’re the victim of bullying. As we’ve seen in the news, bullying can be devastating to a child, and can even lead to suicide. Many schools now have anti-bullying programs to discourage bullying at school, but these messages need to be reinforced in the home, through good parenting. Two new books can help parents and children address and prevent bullying.

For parents:

The Bullying Antidote: Superpower Your Kids for Life

By Dr. Louise Hart and Kristen Caven

We will never be able to make bullying go away entirely, but we can equip our kids with a “superpower” that enables them to restore their “health, happiness, and balance” in the face of bullying. The authors present both an “outside-in” approach, whereby the adults in kids’ lives are “enforcing rules and laws, and holding kids accountable in order to change behavior,” as well as an “inside-out” approach, whereby adults help “children develop attitudes, values, and skills that empower them to have respectful relationships based on rights and responsibility.” This is a comprehensive parenting strategy to help parents raise children who can resist bullying, as well as prevent them from becoming bullies themselves.

via Susan Heim on Parenting: Back-to-School: Anti-Bullying Books for Parents and Kids.