Thursday, December 15, 2011

CYBERBULLYING APP ATROCITY

Notes by: Theresa Payton, Fortalice, LLC. Also covered in WBTV's segment Protecting Your Cyberturf featuring Theresa Payton and Kristen Miranda.
CYBERBULLYING APP ATROCITY

3 million. That’s the number of times an “ugly meter” app has been downloaded to smart phones so far and it’s alarming children advocates that are trying to fight cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has disastrous consequences. Kids end up depressed, with low esteem, and some have even taken their own lives in despair. No good can come from this meter.

This has become a popular app in the Apple store and it’s called UGLY METER. The latest version of the app even has a “Bully Mode” to help you come up with mean things to say and make it even easier to post photos with mean comments on the web. Cyber expert Theresa Payton has an alert for all our viewers.


HOW IT WORKS:
1. download the app
2. run photos through it
3. the software uses facial details in the photo and the program rates the face on an ugly meter on a scale of 0 to 10
4. the software then adds a nasty taunt to the photo which you can post together on the web

We highly recommend you check all your home computers and smart phones to make sure your family is not using this app.


WORD OF THE WEEK:
BITCOIN: It’s a play on words. It’s coins in the digital word. The “bit” is it is digital currency. The coin can represent money or something of value like points or badges in a game. It enables fast payments between people in any location. Similar idea to PayPal except there is no central organization managing the payments. It provides sender and receiver some anonymity. It’s popular with gamers. Use with caution.

RESOURCES:
Web site of the creator of the Ugly App Meter: http://www.dappergentlemen.com/uglymeter/index.html

Parent and Teacher resources to help combat cyberbullying:

Stop Cyberbullying: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

Fortalice LLC tracks cyberbullying and other internet issues: www.FortaliceSolutions.com
Cyberbullying Research Center: http://www.cyberbullying.us/

Girl related cyberbullying: http://www.awaythrough.com/

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