MID-MICHIGAN - A Mid-Michigan mother, Amanda, reached out to bring attention to the severe bullying her daughter has been experiencing both at school and online. During an interview, Amanda described the harassment, including physical bullying at school and cyberbullying on TikTok.
Amanda shared that her daughter has been targeted by a group of girls who have thrown milk cartons and water bottles at her. Additionally, the bullies created a TikTok page to post videos and images of her daughter, accusing her of various things without any evidence. Despite Amanda's efforts to have the content removed and to address the issue with the school, the bullying has persisted.
"When I confronted the school, the principal dismissed the severity of the TikTok page, saying it was about the general 'tea' of the school," Amanda said. The principal also admitted to knowing about the page for two years without taking action.
Amanda reported the TikTok account to the platform, hoping it would be taken down, but her efforts have been unsuccessful. She emphasized the need for stricter policies regarding phone usage in schools and more proactive measures to address bullying.
"Cyberbullying has become a serious issue, especially since COVID-19. Kids are turning to social media more, and it's making bullying much worse," Amanda stated. She suggested that schools should implement programs like Rachel's Challenge, which promotes kindness and aims to prevent bullying.
The school district, Mount Morris, near Flint, Michigan, acknowledged the problem but indicated the challenges in handling cyberbullying that occurs outside school hours. Despite the superintendent's efforts to communicate, Amanda feels more needs to be done.
"Parents need to be more involved and held accountable," Amanda urged. "Bullying can lead to tragic outcomes, and we need to address this seriously."
Amanda's daughter continues to attend school, but the family remains vigilant, hoping for more substantial action to protect students from bullying in all its forms.
