Did you know that over 3.2 million (yes, million) students are bullied every year? Some of our favorite celebrities and closest friends have even been effected by it in some way or another. Being bullied is not only a traumatic experience when it's actually happening, but it also has a huge emotional effect on your life. Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of it, and according to the CDC, being bullied can even cause long-term mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
So, we know it’s bad and it needs to be stopped, but what can we do about it? In an effort to end mean girl bullying, Teen Vogue is teaming up with Secret’s Mean Stinks campaign to create a #ChainOfNice. Basically, we want to help end the negativity and encourage everyone to pay niceness forward instead. And as a thank-you, you’ll be entered for a chance to win awesome prizes every month (because karma.)
Here’s how it works: Go here to download our pledge template or get creative and make your own. Then tell us how you plan to put a stop to girl-to-girl bullying (it can be anything from paying a compliment to a classmate or stepping in when you notice someone else being harassed). Then share your photo or video to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #ChainOfNice and #TVSweepsEntry (click here to see the official rules.)
Check out some of the other amazing pledges already submitted by fellow Teen Vogue readers and join the movement. You’ll not only be helping to end bullying, but you’ll also be starting the next big trend: niceness.
