Dr. Phil Takes Up Cyber-Bullying Fight

(CBS)  This morning in Washington, D.C., internet safety experts and other witnesses will tell a congressional committee about the growing problem of bullying, both in school and online. Dr. Phil McGraw, host of "The Dr. Phil Show," will be testifying at the hearing.

McGraw appeared on "The Early Show" Thursday from Washington.

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McGraw said he wants to talk today about the "wild wild web" and its impact on kids.

"It is so out of control," he said. "These kids are getting isolated in their homes. They're getting isolated on these computers. And they're getting their reputations ruined. This is something that is so different because there was a time when the bullies were limited to school. They would write things on the bathroom wall or bother kids on the playground or lunchroom. But now it travels with them -- even if they change schools. They can get isolated in their own homes. The cyber-bullying is a serious, serious problem. We've got to figure out what to do to get this under control."

"Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith pointed out that when many of these kids are bullied, they quit attending school because they're so humiliated.

McGraw added, "So much of what's going on today is beyond parents because our kids are much more computer literate than we are. They can Photoshop pictures and put a child in a humiliating or embarrassing situation. They write e-mails, write letters, and so often we see these kids become isolated, withdrawn, they stop going to school. And they can even, as we have seen so tragically with situations like Phoebe Prince, can wind up actually taking their lives. I mean, this is a terrible burden on these kids. We've got to give the educators the tools they need to prevent this, to intervene in this. It requires training. They need to know how to intervene when it is happening. We've got to raise awareness about this."

McGraw said many children are being victimized in this way.

He explained, "What we know is that 42 percent of all children say they have been bullied online, 35 percent say they have been outright threatened online. And here's the problem, 85 percent of this goes completely unabated. There is never any detention, there is never any complaint that is followed up. So, this is something that's affecting almost one in two children and we're basically not doing anything about it. That's what today's hearings are about, to try to get this under control."

If you're a parent and you realize your child is being bullied, McGraw suggests getting involved with your child right away.

"Sometimes parents make the mistake of saying, this is just kids being kids," he said. "This is the most alone and isolated your child will ever feel. That's when you need to put your arm around their shoulder and you need to help them. When you go to the school, don't run in there historically, like your hair's on fire. These teachers are dedicated. They are devoted. They want to help, but they need to be made aware. We need to track down who these kids are. These keyboard bullies are anonymous, which means they're even more mean, more aggressive because they can hide behind anonymity. The school wants to help. So, enlist the help of the teachers."

For more with Dr. Phil, check out his blog posting on bullying here.

[aluapsti]

Tha answer to this problem is so simple. Talk to your children . Even you parents who know that your kids will never fall victim of this. Tell your kids that they dont have to listen to what thier peers say . Tell them if they want to know the truth about anything they should come to you and you should be there for them. Always . Let your kids know that kids are mean and they are for the most part young and immature. Let your kids know that you are there for them and they dont need anything else. You love them . These people that are bullying are usually just lashing out because they dont have parents that have taught them to love. Its sad but true. You let them know that your children do. Its as simple as that.

[Kaizer_Soze]

There's no reason to dust off this windbag on the subject of cyberbullying, any middle school or high school counselor knows more about this subject than Phil will ever know.

[jnostromo]

Nothing will change until the parents, and the schools are actually held accountable...How many more kids have to committ suicide before this country wakes up and makes zero tolerance the policy in all schools and hands out severe punishment to the offenders. Parent s need to be called on the carpet when their kids resort to bullying, if they don't correct their child's behavior, the authorities should be contacted and the kids removed from school and put into juvenile detention facilities. In the extreme cases like that of the 5 kids in Massachusetts, jail time should be doled out. The internet also needs to be regulated, it allows sex offenders and criminals to troll under assumed names. the internet companies need to be held accountable also..

[tomanyt]

Dr. Phil is a tool.

[Jo53111]

The time has come for school educators, parents, and students to be educated about their responsibilities and liabilities. Cyber bullying and sextexting are illegal. Assault and battery and slander have been illegal for decades. This is just a different way of harming someone. These people are bullies, and bullies are cowards. They are also liable. As the comment below, the school and parents are liable. If your bullying causes death, that can be manslaughter. We're talking prison and $$$$.

[jnostromo]

The schools have no excuse and should not require beind educated about bullying...Columbine and other previous incidents should have made all administrators, school boards and teachers wake up...These "educators" cannot claim ignorance in this day and age.. All they have to do is do their jobs and exercise vigilance for 8 plus hours a day..they are being paid handomely, require them to actually perform their duties or dismiss them..