Today I attended the first day of a cyberbullying conference in a suburb of New York City, sponsored by WiredSafety.  The program today convened kids, parents, educators, law enforcement, and industry for an open discussion on the destructive nature of cyberbullying.

It was an opportunity for over 100 school kids to openly discuss their experiences with cyberbullying and how to combat this online threat.  When the kids in the audience were asked if they had ever experienced cyberbullying, almost all the hands went up in the room.  Yet, very few then indicated that they had told a parent about their experience. 

Tina Meier, the mother of a teen who committed suicide after experiencing cyberbullying, spoke eloquently about her daughter's experience.   Her heartbreaking story has helped to ignite a real movement to address this online safety issue.

For online safety advocates, we need to consider what it takes to keep kids safe from the devastating impact of cyberbullying.   One participant said that in order to address the problem, "it takes a school bus."   Parents, educators, the industry, and kids each need to take responsibility and work together to stop cyberbullying. 

Tomorrow, the conference continues in New York City to consider how the industry, working together with the community, can help address cyberbullying and protect our kids online.

For more information on cyberbullying check out www.stopcyberbullying.org