Who are UPstanders?
StandUP believes that anyone can become an Upstander with the right knowledge, tools, and support.
What kind of bystander are you? When bullying happens—whether in person or online—bystanders are often present. A bystander is anyone who witnesses bullying, whether it’s verbal, emotional, relational, or physical.
Research shows that when bystanders step in to defend the target of bullying, the bullying stops within 10 seconds more than half the time!
Sometimes, emotional or relational bullying is so subtle that you might not even realize you’ve become a target or a bully yourself. However, by changing your attitude and behavior, you can become an Upstander who stops bullying. Supporting the person being bullied not only helps them but also reduces the emotional toll that witnessing bullying can have.
How much do you know about what it means to be an Upstander?
Watch the Video Below
The videos below illustrate the crucial role of upstanders in bullying situations and how their actions—or inactions—can influence the outcome. Take a moment to watch and reflect on how you can make a difference:
Playlist
There are many things that witnesses to bullying can do to become upstanders:
Bystanders can upstanders various roles, each influencing the bullying situation differently:
Question the bullying behavior. Simple things like changing the subject or questioning the behavior can shift the focus.
Use humor to say something funny and redirect the conversation.
There is strength in numbers too! Bystanders can intervene as a group to show there are several people who don’t agree with the bullying.
Walk with the person who is the target of bullying to help diffuse potential bullying interactions.
Reach out to check in with the person who was bullied to let them know you do not agree with it and that you care. It makes a difference.
How can you change your school climate and change to be an upstander? Take this time to reflect on your experiences and think about how you can make changes to foster a more inclusive and respectful environment.
Below shows a student’s initiative to change her community.
Playlist
Recognizing and addressing our actions, no matter how small, can make a big difference. Can you be a changer and work together to build a more supportive community?
