The StopCyberbullying Pledges
We already know that inspiring students works and lecturing them doesn’t. The StopCyberbullying Pledge programs, designed by teens for teens, preteens, and their families, will give young people the tools and empowerment they need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. They are designed to kick-start action and put a face to cyberbullying and sexting abuse. These pledges each have a different theme and message and are designed for all grade levels.
The Megan Pledge was named for Megan Meier (the teen from Missouri who took her own life after being tormented at the direction of a neighborhood mom posing as a cute 16-year-old boy). Students taking the Megan Pledge do it in Megan’s name and promise to stop cyberbullying and to never consider suicide a solution for anything. This pledge is meant for grades 9-12, as younger children may have difficulty with the anti-suicide message.
The StopCyberbullying Pledge has broader general appeal than the Megan Pledge by omitting the suicide component found in the Megan Pledge. Students taking the StopCyberbullying Pledge promise not to cyberbully others and to stop cyberbullying. This pledge is designed for grades 7-8.
The Jessie Challenge targets sexting and sexting harassment and is dedicated to Jessie Logan, a high school senior who took her life after being harassed mercilessly by other students for the nude image she sent her 19-year-old boyfriend. Sexting starts as early as grade 7, and the focus of the Jessie Challenge is less upon her suicide and more about avoiding sexting and deleting any received sexting images. Therefore, it is meant for students from grades 7-12.
Sumo Panda Pledges and Alex Wonder Pledges for younger students are specific to prevention and impulse management tactics, such as the Stop, Block and Tell Pledge and the Take 5! Promise. These have been crafted for K-6 graders and use the Sumo Panda and Alex Wonder character themes used by WiredSafety. We have also created the Trusted Adult Agreement for parents of younger students, which has them promise to not over react if their child comes to them with an online problem.