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Ages 10+ · Digital Life · Kind and friendly
When someone is unkind online
⏸️pause📸save it🧑tell a grown-up🚫block💌be a friend
Five steps when someone is unkind.
The big ideaWhen someone is unkind online, pause, save it, tell a grown-up, and be a friend.

How it works

Unkind words online can land hard. Zoe used five steps: pause, save it, tell a grown-up, block, and be a friend.

A fast reply is often an angry one, and it can make things bigger. Waiting lets the upset feeling calm down.

Comments can be deleted, so a picture of the screen lets a grown-up see what was written.

You never have to fix it alone. Unkind words do not say who you are.

Pause, donot replySave itTell agrown-upBlockBe a friend
Zoe's five steps.
Helps• Three slow breaths• Showing a grown-up• Blocking, with a grown-up• A kind private noteMakes it worse• Typing something mean back• Joining in with a laugh• Posting to get even• Keeping it secret
What helps, and what makes it bigger.

Example 1: Zoe and Leo's comment

  1. Leo writes, "This is baby stuff," under Noah's comic.
  2. Zoe takes three slow breaths and deletes her angry words.
  3. She takes a picture of the comment and shows her dad, and together they block Leo.

Example 2: A friend who feels alone

  1. Noah is staring at his screen, feeling small.
  2. Zoe writes him a private note that says only what is true: "Your comic made me laugh."
  3. She does not mention Leo at all. The note says, I am on your side.

Example 3: A mean name in a game chat

  1. A player calls you a mean name in a game chat.
  2. Do not write back. Save the words and tell a grown-up.
  3. Then block the player with your grown-up, because most games have a block button.
Do not writebackSave the wordsTell a grown-upBlock
In a game chat.

Words to know

block
To stop someone's words from reaching you.
screenshot
A picture of what is on a screen.
pause
To wait before you do anything.

Watch out

Try it

  1. Your thumb is over send on an angry reply. What is the best first move?
  2. A comment was deleted. Why was the saved picture still smart?
  3. What should a note to a friend who was hurt say?
  4. Who do you tell first when it feels like too much?
Answers: 1. Pause · 2. A grown-up can still see what was written · 3. Something true and kind · 4. A grown-up
Try at homeWith a grown-up, find the block and report buttons in an app you use, and make a plan together.
For grown-upsFind the block and report buttons together in an app your child uses, and make a plan for what you will do if something unkind arrives.
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