And we need YOUR help to protect them. Every day HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of youngsters in Britain face terror in their own homes through cyber bullying, in most cases unknown to parents. One of them was Matthew Jones, whose heart-rending story is told on these pages. He was driven to suicide by Facebook tormentors and suicide websites.
WE want our campaign, launched in conjunction with national charity Beatbullying, to stop Matthew's tragedy - one of 20 bullying suicides a year - happening to any other child. And we have three key demands:

WE AIM to make social networks sites like Facebook and Bebo - loved by millions of children - face up to their responsibilities to stop online bullies. Incredibly, there is NO independent regulation to ensure bullying problems are dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
WE WANT a senior teacher in every school in Britain to be assigned responsibility for cracking down on classroom tormentors.
WE WANT every major political party to set out its policy for funding anti-bullying measures ahead of next year's General Election, with a view to drafting a Schools Safety Bill.
To coincide with Anti-Bullying Week, Beatbullying will tomorrow publish a shock report that documents the true scale of the online problem.
IT IS expected to reveal that around 340,000 CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS in the UK are subject to persistent cyber bullying every day over many months. This means around one in 13 children is suffering. Emma-Jane Cross, Chief Executive of Beatbullying, said: "The consequences of cyber bullying are just as traumatic as those of physical bullying.
"We've witnessed tragic suicides resulting from relentless online hate campaigns."
Other research by Beatbullying shows more than 60 PER CENT of kids from 11 to 18 have witnessed cyber bully- ing - and seven out of ten victims know their online bully.
BUT today we aim to turn the tide with a NATIONAL PETITION calling for a code of practice for social networking sites among our other aims.
YOU can sign our petition in today's print edition of News of the World and post it to us or log on to sign up at notw.co.uk/beatbullying . There, you can also find links to get help and advice if you fear your child is being bullied.
And bullied children can seek help via Beatbullying's CyberMentors scheme through which they can talk to other young victims. Go to cybermentors.org.uk or www.beatbullying.org .

Overall in the UK around ONE IN THREE youngsters experience some kind of bullying.
It could be YOUR child. Help us to stop it NOW.
Click here to download this A4 poster and place it where you think as many youngsters as possible will see it. We also have special A3 glossy versions of this poster available for schools. If you want one for your school, please get your administrator to e-mail poster@notw.co.uk with your school's full address and we'll send you one.
Please note: All comments are moderated.
Tick this box to accept our
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This article has 20 comments
I'm an adult and my childhood bullies came to get me again recently over 35 years later! That's alongside all the other bullies I seem to have attracted.
One of the main ones is an ex Policewoman.
They've done terrible things to me, my family - and my pets. The Police aren't paying attention. Makes me wonder why. I've discovered a lot of law breaking as they got away with it, maybe this is what the problem is.
I must be one of the most bullied people in the UK. I've tried to find out what it is about me that inspires such evil behaviour.
They've destroyed my life and I have nothing. I used to pick myself up and start again but now I don't think I can.
By Bonnie.. Posted February 28 2010 at 9:39 AM.
I have been a victim of bullying through facebook,iI have never been bullyied in my life and all of a sudden i started getting attacked off ppl.this led me to close my account down because no matter how many times the bully gets their account closed down they will just open it back up in a diffrent name.I'm still scared and feel like a prisoner in my own home.These ppl are HORRIBLE COWARDS! I am signing this petitoin because something really needs to be done as it is getting serious and to many ppl are commiting suiside.
By annonymous.. Posted February 21 2010 at 2:57 PM.
My son tried to commit suicide on Tuesday 28th of April, by blowing up his flat with a gas bottle. He suffered severe burns and was taken to hospital under police surveillance, without being assessed by a psychiatrist he was then taken to forestgate police station, kept overnight and the following day was taken to Stratford court, he was not allowed to sit in front of the judge as his burns were so severe, the judge remanded him in custody and took straight to pentonville prison, my ex wife was waiting to see our son before he was taken to prison and she was refused to see him, what we cannot understand is if his burns were so severe why on earth was he taken out of hospital in extreme pain and mental condition should have been sectioned with continuing after care.
Also they are charging him with Arson and intent to harm others, which in our view is impossible as he tried to commit suicide not to burn down his flat only intending to harm himself, after being released from rehab far too soon for Alcoholism . He has been treated like a piece of meat, been shown no compassion to himself or his family with complete disrespect.
By maurice sutton.. Posted February 18 2010 at 2:32 PM.
Bully = Coward
By Isabel Richardson.. Posted February 7 2010 at 2:46 PM.
My daughter was bullied at primary school and had a breakdown because she was bullied at the tender age nine. I believe the school should be charged with neglect. And until these types of cases are recognised as such. The schools will continue to destroy young peoples lives.
By MRS. Marilyn Makings.. Posted January 26 2010 at 5:38 AM.
facebook is full of bullys,once you report it and the profile is removed the bullys just open a new account and carry on under a different name.
By paula.. Posted January 24 2010 at 3:57 PM.
That very word bully can bring on such fear,
they are so unruly their cruelty can sear.
They pick on the lonely they pounce on the meek,
their intention is only to terrorise the weak.
They're not gender based it's both female and male,
in evil they're encased for they pick on the frail.
Their age is no barrier they're both young and old,
of disease they're the carrier their actions are cold.
An audience is required that helps bullies thrive,
it gets them all fired it makes them feel alive.
You'll find them at work with children at play,
all over they lurk every hour every day.
They are all around bullying adults and kids,
but when they're found out their life hits the skids.
There's a sure fire way that they can be beat,
if you cause them affray they'll admit defeat.
Tell your manager or teacher you must have disclosure,
make your parents a feature bullies hate that exposure.
They need to be shown you will not concede,
when your spirit has grown you'll have sown the seed.
When they know you'll fight back they will lower their tone,
they'll be scared to attack they will leave you alone.
Show them you're aware that their actions are bad,
what they're doing's not fair their bullying is sad.
They claim life can be cruel but that applies to us all,
A bully is a fool their bravado is small.
When they're stripped of their presence they're no longer empowered,
a bully in essence is, ''NO MORE THAN A COWARD''
By BRI MARK.. Posted January 20 2010 at 11:47 AM.
My beautiful daughter who is now 15 was bullied relentlesly from the age of 11. She was called names, spat on, hair pulled out, beaten, pushed down stairs and tormented on a daily basis for no other reason than they could. The school after many many hours of trying to get them to help did NOTHING an all to familiar story! Eventually we moved her to a different school but the damage was done.
She now suffers depression which she is medicated, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has attempted suicide twice. She has regular counselling but struggles every minute of every day. She is a repetitive self harmer, so what started out as fun for these bullies has completely destroyed her life. As her mother i have to stand back every day and watch her struggle to live and there is nothing i can do.
Dont let the bullies win, if it happens tell someone, anyone and talk about how it makes you feel, DONT suffer in silence, hopefully one day my daughter will find some peace in her mind and life.
By Charlotte Cash.. Posted January 11 2010 at 1:33 PM.
i wish to sing the ant-bulling for my daughter who was bullys at school my 9 years olds and my daugher who is 5 years old
By kelley seddon.. Posted January 10 2010 at 9:58 PM.
I was bullied at school all because i would,nt run with the usual crowd and was considered differant bullies are cowards, they cant face someone one-to-one they hunt in packs ....I wonder if these bullies who persecuted this poor girl will hang their heads in shame but i doubt it ....What comes around goes around .....R.I.P.sweetheart..xx
By beryl ebdon .. Posted January 10 2010 at 2:21 PM.
I was bullied relentlessly all through school for being a 'boffin', my three children have all been bullied throughout their school lives for anything and everything any jealous group of children can think up, from height, to dyslexia, to wearing glasses, to being too quiet, to being too outgoing..even teachers have been reported as bullies..when is it going to stop? When are those we give our childrens care to going to wake up and see what's going on
By Vikki.. Posted January 10 2010 at 11:30 AM.
I am signing this petition against bullying because I was bullied at school and I don't want my children to go though the same thing,or any other child it dosent always have to be physical.
By Alison McCormick .. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:09 PM.
I wish to sign the anti-bullying petition for my son who is sought out by other lads every night on his way home. As a parent I feel terribly helpless and he won't let me meet him as that will make matters worse he says.(I have taken to parking quite near to where he is and picking him up that way). Please do all you can.
By mrs susan weavingn/a.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:39 PM.
This has to be stopped. I suffered for 18 months when I was in secondary school. My life was hell and I would not like to see any other child suffer in that way. Even to-day I can still remember every detail. It never leaves you. Please do all you can as I feel that to-day things are even worse especially with facebook etc.,
By m smith.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:34 PM.
More needs done in schools and colleges. Kick the bullies out".
By Lisa Babe.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:23 AM.
What is evident here is cries for help from parents- I know what it's like first hand -Don't put your children or young people through the stress of being pushed into school. Their health and wellbeing is more important, believe me. M. Phillips-take action against the school for what has happened to your daughter, if not tyhreaten action, from what I read -they are partly responsible for your daughters situation, do not let authority bully you in pressuring you into sending her to school against your better judgment. Do not settle on false promises. Take the stress away from your daughter and yourselves by not sending her-simple. Get your doctors backing-your not standing for it-Human Rights Act. I hope your daughter recovers but I doubt this will happen until the threat of going to school is taken away.
By Lisa Babe.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:18 AM.
Bullying is glorified in this country. From the X Factor to Dragons Den to The Apprentice and the bullying Government telling us all what to do the whole time and inflicting disproportionate punishments if we don't do as we're told. It has become ingrained in our culture and is now institutionalised.
It's hardly surprising kids are bullying each other on the internet when you see the example they are set by celebrities and the corrupt politicians.
By Simon.. Posted November 29 2009 at 4:44 AM.
my daughter is suffering serious problems due to bullying she now as globus hysterics syndrome snd is under councilling and is still sick upto twenty times a day we are beside ourselves how the school allowed this to go on so long we ave the police involved still no no outcome and they are still at the school the four bullies im disgusted with it all carnt berlieve what the school ave allowed to go on even with all my beggung to get them sorted they dont care and our lives ave been turned upside down
By m phillips.. Posted November 22 2009 at 11:28 PM.
Bullying is terrible. What's even worse is some teacher's are afraid of the bully's themselves! More needs to be done in schools to help children whose lives are made hell by disgusting people who make their lives a misery.
By darely.. Posted November 16 2009 at 6:56 PM.
i wish to sign the anti-bullying petition for my daughter who is suffering now at the hands of bullys in her school. As a parent you feel helpless as you can only hope the school will deal with it appropriately and put an end to it.
By sharon robinson.. Posted November 15 2009 at 11:35 AM.