Giving Compass' Take:

• Parents can educate themselves about social media platforms in an effort to help their children who are experiencing cyberbullying. 

• How can cyberbullying and things like data privacy become part of school curriculum discussion? 

• Read about Grom Social: a social media platform that has anti-bullying content built in. 

Bullying among teens is nothing new, but social media outlets are providing new avenues for it, often out of sight of parents and teachers.

Nearly one in three American high school students has been a victim of cyberbullying, according to a recent study by the cybersecurity company McAfee. Students reported witnessing or experiencing cyberbullying on all eight platforms listed on the survey, including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube, according to results the company provided to The 74.

Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, said bullies often use text messaging, especially group text chats, to victimize other students. The appeal of texting, she said, is that parents usually don’t have access.

Students also use other apps to communicate online, said Ross Ellis, founder and CEO of Stomp Out Bullying. Ellis said she has heard about students using Tumblr, Askfm, After School, WeChat, and even Tinder to chat and, sometimes, to bully. She called these apps “breeding ground for bullying” — and expressed concerns about a new, free app called Sarahah that allows anonymous posts to be sent directly to users.

Because of this, parents need to learn what their kids are doing on social media, Ellis said, by reading reliable sources online, looking for community groups or classes that explain different apps, and trying them out. Without knowing what’s out there, parents won’t be able to help their children.

“It’s not about removing kids’ access to tech, but instead letting them know that you’re going to help them talk through what options they have if (bullying) happens online and show them how to have a good, positive experience online,” she said.

Read the full article about cyberbullying by Laura Fay at The 74