Yik Yak causing bullying concerns at some schools

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Messaging app Yik Yak causing bullying concerns at some schools Yik Yak was launched in December by 23-year-old entrepreneurs Brooks Buffington and Tyler Droll, two recent college graduates who designed the app to work like a “virtual bulletin board” for any 1.5-mile radius. (Courtesy: Yik Yak)  By Joshua Rhett Miller  FoxNews.com A new social media app that works like a localized, anonymous version of Twitter is rapidly gaining popularity on college campuses nationwide, but some educators fear it's being used by high school students to issue threats and to bully classmates. Yik Yak was launched in December by Atlanta-area entrepreneurs Brooks Buffington and Tyler Droll, two recent college graduates who designed the app using geo-fencing technology to create countless small communities. The app works like a “virtual bulletin board” for any 1.5-mile radius, Droll told FoxNews.com. “With Yik Yak, we allow anyone to have that power, that audience, and you’re not limited by who’s following who,” he said. “And this app isn’t a one-to-one messenger. Anyone within 1.5 miles can see it. We equate it to a virtual bulletin board.” Currently available for iOS and Android, Yik Yak allows users to vote on or reply to any so-called “Yak” posted anonymously using 200-character messages instead of Twitter’s 140-character limit. Although Yik Yak, which was designed with college campuses in my mind, restricts access on some 130,000 primary and secondary schools across the country, some parents and educators have raised concerns that younger kids are active on the service. Most recently, in Connecticut, parents received a message from Fairfield Public Schools warning them that Yik Yak was “creating opportunities for mean-spirited, bullying behavior” at some of its schools. "The issues range from bullying behavior, racial harassment, sexual harassment, to bomb threats and threats of physical violence."- Fairfield Public Schools “Upon researching this we have learned that Yik Yak has been causing many issues at middle schools, high schools, and colleges around the country,” the message read. “The issues range from bullying behavior, racial harassment, sexual harassment, to bomb threats and threats of physical violence.” As a result, district officials asked Yik Yak to utilize its GPS technology to block access to the app within all of its campuses. A company spokeswoman confirmed to FoxNews.com that Yik Yak has been blocked to three middle schools and two high schools within the district. “We’re proactively trying to keep high schoolers off the app,” Droll said. “It’s being used very well at colleges. We think psychologically high schoolers aren’t ready to use our app.” In California, a 17-year-old high school student was charged with three felony counts of making a terrorist threat earlier this month after he allegedly posted on Yik Yak that a shooting would occur at two local high schools. The student thought the threat would be “funny” and untraceable, according to a news release from the Reedley Police Department. Elsewhere, in Mobile, Ala., a 16-year-old and 14-year-old from the area were reportedly charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly using Yik Yak to announce forthcoming shootings at local high schools. But Buffington said those “growing pains” are not unique to Yik Yak, and he recalled a story of the app being used by students at Vanderbilt University to raise money for a fellow classmate diagnosed with cancer. Other users might not have personally known the student, but the immediate forum and increased awareness created by the app worked wonders, he said. “It allowed him to easily connect with his whole campus,” Buffington said. “Within one day, more than 1,100 people showed up to see if they were a blood match. Awesome things like that happen all the time with our app on college campuses.” Company officials announced on Monday that it had secured $1.5 million in funding, aimed at enhancing current features and expanding its user base. Both Kroll and Buffington declined to indicate how many people are currently using Yik Yak, but some estimates are as high as 250,000. They did say, however, that it’s been used on more than 100 college campuses, primarily in the South. Buffington said he expects the app, which was originally launched a meager side project, to eventually rival social media behemoths like Facebook and Twitter because users are not anchored to any one particular profile, photo or circle of users. “The trend we saw in all other forms of social media was, you have a profile, something that weighs you down,” he said. ‘You’re expected to act a certain way. Another big thing is they’re closed networks that lack diversity and differentiating content.” Parry Aftab, an attorney specializing in Internet privacy and security law, told FoxNews.com that Yik Yak is quickly becoming “very popular” in places like Chicago, California and large swaths of the South. She said the anonymity apps like Yik Yak provides does indeed tend to make its users more daring. “If people know what they’re doing is being monitored, they tend to think twice,” Aftab told FoxNews.com. “But I have no problem with schools blocking access to anything that isn’t related to education during school hours – period. Parents can deal with it when they get home.”

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No Name-Calling Week

Having trouble viewing this email? Please click here Forward to a Friend Unsubscribe To ensure delivery, please add mike@balanceeducation.net to your address book. www.BalanceEducationalServices.com The Leader in Bullying Prevention No Name-Calling Week No Name-Calling Week was inspired by a young adult novel entitled "The Misfits" by popular author, James Howe. The book tells the story of four best friends trying to survive the seventh grade in the face of all too frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence, and sexual orientation/gender expression. Motivated by the inequities they see around them, the "Gang of Five" (as they are known) creates a new political party during student council elections and run on a platform aimed at wiping out name-calling of all kinds. The No-Name Party in the end, wins the support of the school's principal for their cause and their idea for a "No Name-Calling Day" at school. Motivated by this simple, yet powerful, idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition created by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's publishing, consisting of over 40 national partner organizations, organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools across the nation. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities. 1. What is No Name-Calling Week? No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities. 2. Who should participate? Anyone who wants to work towards eliminating harmful name-calling, harassment and bullying in their school can be a part of No Name-Calling Week, whether you are a teacher, student, guidance counselor, coach, librarian or bus driver. The curricular materials on this web site and in the Resource Kit are primarily aimed at middle school students, specifically grades 5-8, but may be modified for older or younger students. Feel free to download materials off this web site, or order the Resource Kit and create your own No Name-Calling Week initiative in your community. 3. How do I order a kit, how much is it, and how long will it take to get it? You can order your kit by clicking here and filling out the order form. The resource kit is $129.95, and will arrive at your door within 3-7 business days from the time you place your order. Expedited shipping service is available upon request. 4. What are some things I can do to promote No Name-Calling Week in my school right now? Click here to plan your No Name-Calling Week. When Was The Last Time Your Staff Had Bullying Prevention Training??? Every morning there are students who dread the approaching school day. Bullying prevention and anti-bullying training are critical in creating an environment conducive to learning. By adopting proven bullying prevention techniques and anti-bullying strategies teachers, staff, and bus drivers can all become active participants in bullying prevention. Make a commitment at your school to stop bullying and begin the process of preventing bullying before it begins. · Research shows that victims of prolonged bullying will eventually become withdrawn or aggressive; in extreme cases, suicidal or violently retaliative. · Research shows that schools with unified violence prevention program cut their incidents of violence up to 50% and increase their academic standing. Mike Dreiblatt provides specific and helpful information on all types of bullying prevention to students, teachers, and parents. His "Stop Bullying" workshops and presentations encourage audience participation through activities and role-playing. Learn how to STOP BULLYING today! Mike@BalanceEducationalServices.com Mike Dreiblatt is the co-founder of Balance Educational Services, LLC, and an outstanding national speaker and author. Mike provides dynamic, practical seminars and workshops to whole school communities: students, school staff, administrators, parents and community members. Using humor and practical strategies, Mike teaches best practices and realistic strategies that can be used immediately. A former teacher, Mike is an expert in bullying and violence prevention, character education, and discipline of students with special needs. See Mike In Action!!! http://www.youtube.com/user/MDreiblatt?feature=mhee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLeiU6jasZQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukCyLeQduzo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7AZIooa1fM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LOuhFazEe8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC9O1j13IJM Is Your Staff Really Prepared??? Testimonials I like that your program is research-based, it fits perfectly with our curriculum goals. Your examples were right on especially in regard to cyber bullying. Christian Educator CO Great! Mike was easily understood and clear in his objectives. Very articulate, clear, concise & knowledgeable. Examples were current and perfect for the school setting. High School Principal GA I loved the pace of this seminar – fast & funny. I also loved the role-plays and how you made all of the information come to life. Middle School Principal MA Thank you so much for the excellent presentation yesterday. I have been to endless seminars, and unfortunately it is rare that I have come away with so much practical information, and food for thought. Middle School Teacher NJ So much information packed into so little time! Great use of our professional development time and dollars. Assistant Superintendent OH The best seminar I’ve been to in years. Full of real-life detail and practical information that I will take back and use right away. High School Teacher VT Bullying Prevention Workshops Call Now: 802-362-5448 $36.95 (includes S/H) Lessons and Activities That Teach Empathy, Friendship and Respect Fax POs to 1-802-549-5024 Balance Educational Services 136 Clover Lane Manchester Center, Vt 05255 Click Here to Purchase Mike's book, How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, has been recognized as a practical resource to teach and reinforce character development and pro-social behavior. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ8gNzZwxA0&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yk9cq4vI9g This user-friendly resource provides K–8 teachers, school administrators, and counselors with fun, interactive lessons and activities that support students' safety and well-being, promote healthy social-emotional development, and improve academic achievement. Using role plays and sample scripts that can be adapted to specific situations, the authors illustrate how to teach critical concepts and behaviors, including how to stand up to a bully and how to stop another student from bullying. In clear, jargon-free language, this research-based book helps school districts meet the curriculum requirements of recently enacted bullying laws by fostering positive youth development around issues of respect, conflict resolution, and interpersonal relationships. Readers will also find: · Sidebars and icons that highlight important information · A supply list of commonly found classroom items within each lesson for quick and easy implementation · Illustrations and unit tests for students' review · Suggestions for enhancing lessons ​ How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression helps educators engage bullies, victims, and bystanders at their own level and teach healthy behaviors to create safe, healthy schools. Book Reviews "This timely book includes perfectly sequenced, content-enriched, practical lessons that will enhance any anti-bullying effort. The student-focused activities will facilitate and maintain learning of important anti-bullying concepts that can never be overemphasized." —Allan L. Beane, Author of The Bully Free Classroom "A practical book packed with the kinds of anti-bullying strategies that teachers, coaches, therapists, and kids regularly request. Every chapter is packed with tips on how to stay physically and emotionally safe when bullying occurs, and children are coached to practice assertive behaviors and avoid the victim role." —Cheryl Dellasega, Author of Mean Girls Grown Up

Bullying Changes a School, One Child at a Time