I remember so looking forward to Thanksgiving every year...

I remember so looking forward to Thanksgiving every year when I was a kid because it meant a break from the constant bullying at school. I may not have been able to escape the loneliness over the Thanksgiving holiday, but at least I could escape the ridicule and abuse, the relentless teasing and taunting from classmates.

Unfortunately today, with the internet and social networking sites like facebook and myspace, kids have no escape. They are haunted in their homes. Everyone always asks me if bullying is any worse today than it was thirty years ago. My answer is always the same. Bullying itself isn't any worse. The impulse for cruelty is no different now than in generations past. What is different is the weaponry. Thirty years ago, if someone wanted to spread a rumor about a fellow classmate, they would write it on a piece of notebook paper, pass it around math or science class, and that would be the end of it. Today that same rumor could be posted on a facebook wall, blasted via email, shared across instant messaging, among dozens of other possibilities. In fact, in the time it's taken you to read this blog posting so far, some ingenious bully has probably just figured out a whole new way to use the internet to terrorize or humiliate another unsuspecting victim.

If you're a parent worried for your child on the internet, there's a service I want to tell you about that I think every parent should be aware of. It's called SocialShield and I've recently joined their advisory board because I was so impressed with their mission--to keep kids safe online. What makes them so terrific is that they can monitor your child's internet activity, especially on sites like facebook, from a dignified distance. If something suspicious is going on, they immediately alert you via email so you can take definitive action. These guys are serious about safety, but they achieve it in a way that gives parents peace of mind without making the child feel as if their space or privacy is being invaded. And another nice thing about SocialShield--you don't have to ask your child to friend you on facebook, which for some kids can be uncomfortable.

Perhaps you're a parent worried that your son or daughter is being bullied online, or maybe you have concerns that your child is the bully. Or, maybe you're a teen reading this blog posting, and you're being harassed anonymously and want to know who's behind it. Check out the SocialShield website. They have a page specifically for teens, and loads of information for parents. This company has been the answer to a prayer for me because I searched so long for someplace to refer students, teachers and parents who were struggling with cyber-bullying issues. They've helped a lot of people and I hope you'll let them help you too.

For more information, visit SocialShield.com.