Watch CBS News

Apps To Help Children, Parents Fight Bullying

By Edward Cardenas

SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Bullying can take on a variety of forms in schools and in cyberspace.

According to StopBullying.gov, 28 percent of students in grades 6-12 experienced bullying, and 1 in 5 kids have been the victim of a text bully, AT&T reports.

As part of Bullying Prevention month, the communications company has compiled a list of apps that help raise the awareness about the issue and help parents protect their children from bullying.

Some of the apps include:

  • TipSubmit Mobile which allows students a confidential way to provide administrators and law enforcement agencies with information regarding bullying, drugs, weapons, potential suicides, and other issues in schools. Tips can be texted and include images and video. The tips are completely anonymous and the app allows for real-time chat with the receiving agency. This free app is available for Android and iOS.
  • Bully Stop which helps protect  children from bully calls, texts and picture messages. This free app for Android gives parents the ability to block calls and messages from people their child doesn't want to hear from. Bully Stop uses a Block List to block unwanted callers and texters. The app maintains a password-protected call log of all attempted contact which allows parents to contact the relevant people, parents, teachers or police and show proof of the bullying communication.
  • Bully Button, a $.99 iOS app, which allows children to record and send an email with an audio attachment. Children can call a parent, friend or school by selecting appropriate options. It also has a suicide hotline button for calling the suicide hotline.

Carriers also offer options for parents. AT&T offers Smart Limits for parents to block unwanted calls and texts from up to 30 numbers, set monthly limits on texts and mobile purchases and restrict texting, data usage and outbound calling during specified times during the day.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.