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A new tool, Cyberbully Alert, is now available for parents and schools to help combat the rapidly growing electronic bullying trend.

Study after study suggests that most children do not tell a trusted adult if they have been bullied online.  The Cyberbully Alert tool allows children to notify parents if they have been targeted by bullies.

The tool could not be easier.  Children simply click the Cyberbully Alert button, located in the system tray, if a incident has taken place.  A "picture" or screenshot is taken and is stored in a folder for later viewing. A message is also sent to parents or pre-approved recipients notifying them by email and text message that a threat has just occurred.

This service is not free.  Visit the website for further details.

America's Most Wanted host John Walsh, will be hosting a LIVE online safety webcast on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008,  at noon.

Mr. Walsh will discuss a wide variety of tips, suggestions and other online safety information invaluable for parents in this limited space event.  He will also be answering your questions, submitted via email.   Registration is required and space is limited. Visit Take Charge for more information.

After three years, a cyberbullying bill has finally passed in Florida.

Last month, Governor Charlie Crist signed the "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act" which ended a long and drawn-out three-year struggle for Jeff's mom, Debbie. 

In 2005, Jeff committed suicide after being repeatedly harassed and bullied online for two years.  Debbie, a Florida school teacher, began her three-year crusade to stop bullying and cyberbullying.  Although numerous bills were introduced over the years to combat this rapidly growing issue,  but until last month they fell by the wayside.

The new law prohibits harassment and bullying of any public school student or employee, which includes electronic bullying/harassment,  and requires school district to develop anti-bullying and harassment policies.  

Yesterday, Kansas Attorney General announced a new online safety website created by the Kansas Cyber Crime Unit. The new website, Net Safe Kansas,  provides information for kids, teens, consumers and parents.  Important cyber alerts are also highlighted.

A study conducted by online security experts, Garlik, found some alarming results:

• 18 percent of children between 8 and 15 years-of-age freely admit to cyberbullying
• 30 percent of children who bully do so because it is "fun"
• 1 in 20 children bully online because it makes them feel "powerful"
• 25 percent of parents are aware of the cyberbullying and believe it is simply "harmless fun"
• 61 percent of children bullied do not tell parents

1000 parents and children between 8 and 15 were polled in the recent study.

After a delay several weeks ago due to severe weather, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed Senate Bill 818 into law yesterday in the neighborhood where once Megan Meier lived. 

Cyberbullying is no longer tolerated in the great state of Missouri.   The act amends the existing harassment laws and now includes electronic harassment.

The new law also requires Missouri school boards to implement a written policy requiring the administration to report crimes of harassment and stalking to law enforcement officials if the incidents occur on school grounds.  Electronic harassment is included.

Megan's mother, Tina Meier, was present at the signing and has been instrumental in getting this bill passed.  Congrats, Tina!

27 men from the Quebec area were arrested in a two-year international investigation by authorities.

According to officials, a German Internet Service Provider owner alerted police after he discovered some people were exchanging child pornography on his Internet forums.  During the investigation, almost 1 million child porn items were exchanged.  One victim was allegedly an infant just a few months old.

The men are between 19 and 68 years-of-age and are facing a variety of charges including accessing, production and possessing material related to child pornography.