What can I do now to stop textbullying?
What if I’m still getting text bullied?
Who can I talk to about text bullying?
Who can I talk to about text bullying?
Listen up – you are not alone! Bullies want you to feel hurt, lonely and afraid. But there are loads of people you can talk to if someone’s bullying you through your mobile or PC. Talking it over will help you to feel better and stop the bullying.
OK, you might feel stupid, or like a wimp or a grass if you tell someone. Or that talking about it will make the bullying even worse. It won’t – the sooner you tell someone, the sooner things can get start to get better.
Are you thinking:
- Can my school help stop the text bullying?
- I don’t want to talk face to face about text bullying. What about phone helplines?
- Is there any help online with textbullying?
- What other help can I get?
- How can I contact my mobile phone company
“Can my school help stop the text bullying?”
Yes, if you tell someone! The government says schools should have ways for stopping mobile phone and PC bullying, just like any other bullying.
What if someone’s slagged you off on a website or a message board? Getting your school’s support will help get the internet service provider to shut it down. An IT teacher might be able to help you track down where a nasty text came from, even if someone’s tried to hide it. Some schools have teachers who are trained to deal with bullying – they might have already sorted a problem like yours.
So have a think – which adults do you like and trust most at school? You don’t have to talk to a teacher – it could be a school counsellor, a classroom assistant or the school nurse.
If you’re worried about telling them, get a friend to come too. Stay calm and explain what’s been happening – show them any evidence you’ve got, like your Stop textbullying diary
If you think speaking up might make the bullying even worse, tell the adult what you do and don’t want them to do – you might not want them to confront your whole class or use your name. If they’re not sure how to help you, tell them about this site!
Other pupils might be able to help you too. Does your school have:
- Older pupils who’ll talk through issues like bullying and help you get your head round it (‘peer counselling’)
- Bully ‘courts’, where pupils and teachers get together to sort out why someone’s getting bullied, and how to stop it.
- ‘Buddy’ systems or a ‘circle of friends’ to help you feel safer and more able to stand up to bullies.
Because text bullying isn’t to your face, catching the bully could be a bit more difficult, and might mean going to the police. So telling an adult you trust is always best.
Don’t keep text bullying secret!
Keisha felt sick every time her phone beeped, because someone kept sending her texts calling her all kinds of horrible names. Especially after school, so what could the teachers do to help?
She didn’t want to tell her mum, as she’d probably freak out and might even take Keisha’s phone off her. Keisha thought it might be a girl in her year who used to go out with her boyfriend, but she didn’t recognise the number.
Keisha likes running and gets on OK with her PE teacher, so she told her – the teacher talked it over with Keisha and helped her report the texts to her mobile phone company, and they got the police involved. It turned out the phone was nicked and it was pay as you go, so they couldn’t tell who’d sent the calls.
Keisha and her teacher talked to Keisha’s mum, and together they decided the headteacher should tell everyone about it at assembly. The calls stopped straight away, and someone found the phone in a bin near the girl’s house a little while after. Whenever Keisha sees her, she looks really embarrassed.
“I don’t want to talk face to face about text bullying. What about phone helplines?”
No problem – as long as you talk to someone! Call these helplines if someone’s insulting you or threatening you through your mobile or PC. They’re especially for young people just like you, they won’t cost you a penny and you can call any time, day or night:
- ChildLine: 0800 1111
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
If you just need to talk about how you feel, you can also call the Samaritans any time on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org
Connexions, a government support service for 13 to 19 year olds, has advisers you can talk to on 080 8001 3219, or text on 08000 968 336 (England only)
“Is there any help online with textbullying?”
It’s not just you who’s getting abused or threatened through your mobile or PC – it happens to thousands of other young people. The web is a good place to let off some steam!
Be careful what sites you visit, especially if they’re offering advice – ‘advisers’ might not be trained and might just be after your personal info. Here are some that could really help:
Bullying Online is a website that covers any kind of bullying. It’s even helped to shut down abusive message boards. You can email for advice to help@bullying.co.uk and the web address is www.bullying.co.uk
CBBC’s beatbullying website, BBClic, has a message board where you can read other young people’s stories about phone and PC bullying, and share your feelings about it. It’s at www.bbclic.com
Chatdanger has lots of useful tips for staying safe in cyberspace – like choosing and setting up a good chat room – and how to avoid text and online bullying. It’s at www.chatdanger.com
You can email Wired Kids to report a ‘cybercrime’ and get advice on what to do about it. It’s at www.wiredkids.org
Connexions, the government support service for young people aged 13 to 19, has a website where you can email an adviser or chat to one online. It’s at www.connexions-direct.com
Kidscape has lots of tips for feeling better about yourself and seeing bullies for what they are. It’s at www.kidscape.org.uk
“What other help can I get?”
Connexions is the government support service for 13 to 19 year olds. There are local centres all over the country where you can sit and chat to someone. Look in the phone book for your nearest centre.
Ask your trusted adult to phone the local council and ask if there are any local youth work projects, counselling services or voluntary organisations helping young people who are bullied. They’ll do stuff to help you build up your self-confidence, so you’ll feel much better and bullies will probably steer well clear of you!
“How can I contact my mobile phone company?”
Tesco Mobile
Telephone: 0870 900 4455
Email: support@tescomobile.com
Website: www.tescomobile.com
3 Network
Telephone: 08707 330 333; 333 from a 3 handset
Email: Click ‘Contact us’ on the 3 website
Website: www.three.co.uk
02
Telephone: 0870 521 4000
Email: 02 Nuisance Call Bureau at ncb@02.com
Website:www.02.co.uk
Orange
Telephone (monthly pay): 07973 100 150; 150 from an Orange handset
Telephone (pay as you go): 07973 100 450; 450 from an Orange handset, Email: Click ‘Email’ on the Orange website
Website: www.orange.co.uk
T-Mobile
Telephone: 0845 412 5000; 150 from a T-mobile handset
Email: Click ‘Help and advice’ at the T-Mobile website
Website: www.t-mobile.co.uk
Virgin Mobile
Telephone: 0845 6000 789; 789 from a Virgin Mobile handset
Email: theteam@virginmobile.com or click ‘contact us’ at the Virgin Mobile website
Website: www.virginmobile.com
Vodafone
Telephone (malicious calls): 191 for operator
Telephone (texts/picture messages/web): 08700 700191 monthly pay; 08700 776655 pay as you go
Email: Click ‘Contact us’ on the Vodafone website
Website: www.vodafone.co.uk
BT Mobile
Telephone : 0800 783 2326
Website: http://www.btmobile.bt.com/
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