It was always going to happen. Marketing and advertising executives were always going to try to find a way to cash in on the unfortunate bullying issue which is prevalent in schools worldwide. Here are two new products invented to ward off bullies:
1. Cell Phone App – For $10 a month a parent can buy an app for your child’s cell phone. It will scan texts and emails for language that might indicate bullying is going on, and if it is found the parent receives an alert. It is available at www.websafety.com.
2. The Backpack with Alarm – The iSAFE backpack is marketed as something a child can use if they feel their safety is in danger because of a bully. It comes with a cord the child can pull that sounds an alarm. It costs about $60.
I don’t feel comfortable with companies profiting from bullying. That cell phone app should be free of charge.
And the bag? Can you imagine how much worse the bullies are going to become when they find out their victim carries a bully bag? I can just hear them now:
“Oh, your mommy bought you a bully bag!”
The true reason why this is all so sad, is not just that executives in fancy suits are starting to equate bullying with dollar signs, and it’s not just because some of these ideas are going to incite bullies rather than tame them. No, the saddest part of this story is that there are desperate people out there so deeply afflicted by bullying and so desperate to make it go away.
My recommendation to every boy and girl subjected to constant bullying is to buy the backpack and hand deliver it to your Principal. The message needs to get through loud and clear. This is not good enough!
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