Creating a connected, safe school culture starts with strong communication. As a leader, your messaging sets the tone for students, families, and staff—helping everyone understand their role in preventing bullying. In 2026, that also means helping your community recognize how bullying has changed, as AI tools and new platforms make harmful behavior faster to create, harder to trace, and easier to spread.
Start With a Clear Definition
Before your community can take action, make sure everyone is on the same page. Use your state’s official definition of bullying and supplement it with resources from StopBullying.gov. Many states have recently updated their laws to address digital and AI-generated harassment, so review your policy language to confirm it covers online behavior that affects students at school. Clear definitions allow you to communicate consistently and confidently across staff, families, and students.
Know the New Forms of Bullying
Bullying today doesn’t always look like it did even a few years ago. Help staff and families watch for newer tactics, including:
- AI-generated images and videos: Fake or altered photos of students, including sexually explicit deepfakes, created with easily available apps and shared in group chats
- Voice cloning and impersonation: AI tools used to mimic a student’s voice or writing style to send messages that appear to come from them
- Fake and impersonation accounts: Profiles created to mock, embarrass, or post as another student
- Group chat exclusion and pile-ons: Deliberately removing students from chats or coordinating mass negative comments
- Harassment in gaming and streaming spaces: Bullying that happens in voice chat, multiplayer games, or live streams, where it’s rarely seen by adults
Make sure families know that creating or sharing sexually explicit deepfakes of minors is not a prank. It can carry serious legal consequences, and the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed in 2025, requires major platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated ones, once they’re reported.
Involve Families
Families are powerful allies in bullying prevention. Keeping them informed and engaged reinforces your message beyond the school walls. Consider:
- Hosting digital safety events for families
- Sharing tips for monitoring social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms
- Educating families about AI risks, including deepfakes, impersonation, and AI chatbots that children may confide in
- Encouraging families to save evidence (screenshots, usernames, dates) before content is deleted
Stay on Top of Digital Trends
Student communication moves quickly. New apps, anonymous messaging, and AI tools can introduce risks almost overnight. With many schools and states now restricting phone use during the school day, some bullying has shifted to after-school hours and private group chats, where it’s harder for staff to see. Educating your community about trends allows families and staff to respond proactively and maintain a safe environment.
Communicate Clearly and Consistently
Your messaging must be precise, timely, and actionable. Best practices include:
- Clear updates on incidents and reporting protocols, including how to report AI-generated content
- Follow-ups on progress and next steps
- Using multiple channels—emails, newsletters, text alerts, your school app, and website posts—to reach everyone
Provide a Dedicated Support Channel
If you don’t have an anti-bullying specialist, consider recruiting one. A dedicated contact ensures students, families, and staff have a reliable resource for reporting concerns. Offering an anonymous reporting option can help students speak up, especially when content is embarrassing, like an altered image. Promote this role through newsletters, emails, and your school website to build trust and confidence.
Celebrate Community & Culture
Bullying prevention isn’t just about rules—it’s about fostering a positive culture. Showcase student-led initiatives, digital citizenship projects, and inclusive achievements. Highlight stories that make families feel connected to a thriving school community.
