Ballymena Academy

stoptextbully top 10 tips are reproduced with kind permission of NCH,
one of the UK’s leading children’s charities.

For more detail on what you can do, who you can talk to and how you
can stop mobile bullying, please visit: www.stoptextbully.com

The tips below are based on extensive research and NCH’s expertise.

1. ALWAYS TELL SOMEONE YOU TRUST WHAT’S HAPPENING this could be your parents, carer, teacher or friend. This might help you feel better and the person may also be able to help you to find a way to stop it altogether.

2. YOU MAY NEED TO TELL THE LOCAL POLICE It’s against the law to make a call or send a text oremail that’s really abusive or menacing, or to keep sending messages that will annoy someone or makethem anxious. The sender could get fined or even go to prison!

3. NEVER REPLY TO THE BULLYOR SEND AN EVEN NASTIER MESSAGE BACK Often bullies willsend a message to get a reaction, so don’t respond to it. Bullies who don’t get a reaction often get boredand stop.

4. KEEP AND SAVE MESSAGES If there’s a website, online voting site, weblog or message board thatsays bad things about you, save a copy or print it off. The internet service provider (ISP) that hosts thesite should have an email address or helpline where you can send the copy and ask them to get rid of it.It might be a good idea to ask a trusted adult to help you contact the ISP.

5. TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR PHONE OR COMPUTER for a few days! Let your phone take messagesand don’t chat or check texts or emails. If you really need to make calls, find out if your phone can turnoff incoming texts for a while. The bully might just get bored and stop

6. MAKE SURE ONLY GOOD FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE IN YOUR PHONE OR EMAIL ADDRESS BOOK- If you don’t recognise a number, caller ID or email, leave it and get a trusted adult to check it later.

7. IF YOU REALLY LIKE USING A CHATROOM, you could sign up again with a different chat ID – usea nickname and don’t give out any of your personal info. Hold back for a bit in the chatroom until you’resure the bully’s gone.

8. ALWAYS BE CAREFUL who you give or lend your mobile to and always be careful about giving out your mobile phone number, especially if you change it – never give out your number in an internet chatroom. You don’t know who else might be online and watching.

9. YOUR MOBILE PHONE PROVIDER CAN HELP YOU BY CHANGING YOUR NUMBER if you start getting bullied through your phone.

10. KEEP TELLING YOURSELF: ‘It’s not my fault and I’m not putting up with it!’ You are not alone.

For more detail on what you can do, who you can talk to and how you can stop mobile bullying, please visit: www.stoptextbully.com

If you are not comfortable talking to an adult or friend, or perhaps wants to remain

anonymous, there are several helplines that can offer advice. And best of all, they won’t cost a penny!

ChildLine 0800 1111 NSPCC0808 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

Mobile phone operators will also be able to help if the bullying is happening via mobile phone. Here is a list of UK companies and how you can contact them:

Tesco Mobile

Telephone: 0870 900 4455 4455 from a Tesco Mobile handset

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: www.three.co.uk

Telephone: 0870 521 4000

Email: 02 Nuisance Call Bureau at ncb@02.com

Website:www.02.com

BT Mobile

Telephone: 0800 3287 526

Website: www.btmobile.bt.com

T-Mobile

Telephone: 0845 412 5000 150 from a T-mobile handset

Email: Click ‘Help and advice’ at theT-Mobile website: www.t-mobile.co.uk

Virgin Mobile

Telephone: 0845 6000 789 789 from a Virgin Mobile handset

Email: theteam@virginmobile.comor click ‘contact us’ at the Virgin Mobile website: www.virginmobile.com

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: www.orange.co.uk

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: www.vodafone.co.uk

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