By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
"It's like making fun of other girls and stuff. Like through pictures and stuff," said Italy Crawford, an 8th grader in Sioux City.
"People do it on Facebook and Twitter and MySpace, or stuff like that," said Aliva Hansen, a freshman in Sioux City.
It's the latest form of cyber bullying, called "Teen Shaming." Many teens, mostly girls, are engaging in this online torment by snapping photos and writing comments.
The biggest culprit of this latest viral bullying is a Facebook Page called "Hey Girl Did You Know." On that page we found plenty examples of girls taking pictures and posting comments. Many of them mean or hurtful. And it's this type of viral shaming that has girls here in Siouxland worried.
"I'm scared it might happen to me once," said fifth grader, Kiara Tott.
Some may be calling it "Teen Shaming ," but there's another term being used to describe this type of behavior.
"Relational violence."
Mandy Engel-Carti, the executive director at Girls Incorporated in Sioux City says bullying between teenage girls is often referred to as relational violence, or bullying that's non-physical.
"What happens is, they put the pressure that they feel on themselves, and the stereotypes and the limitations, that they feel on themselves, on to others," said Engel-Carti.
And what makes this type of bullying some much worse, is that it's constant.
"It's not just on a computer, where you have to go to a desktop anymore, it's on your phone, it's other people telling you because they're getting up dates throughout the day.
Now parents, there is something you can do. Girls Inc. says the best way to fight teen shaming or teen bullying is with good self esteem.
"We need to counter the messages they're getting every day through videos and all the media messages they see day after day. And we all need to give just as many messages back about who they are as a person," said Engel-Carti.
Now teens, if you are experiencing this type of bullying, talk with your parents, a teacher, or even your school counselor. There are people able to help you.
