'Cyberbully' movie event set for tonight
(Courtesy/file photo) A free movie tonight at the Panida, sponsored by 7B Drug Free and Summit Insurance, will feature the movie “Cyberbully.” This photo shows the nearly 270 people who turned out for the last movie event focused on teens in November.
SANDPOINT — According to the bullyingstatistics.org website, more than half of teens and adolecents reported being bullied online in 2014.
In addition, more than one in three have experienced cyberthreats online, 25 percent have been bullied repeatedly through their cellphones or Internet, and well over half of those youngsters do not tell their parents when they are cyberbullied.
A free event tonight, sponsored by 7B Drug Free and Summit Insurance, will feature the movie "Cyberbully." The 2011 movie is about a teenage girl who is bullied by classmates through social media. Event organizer Barb Perusse, a professional counselor in Sandpoint, said although the movie is a little dated, what she likes about it is that it "shows hope and empowers the girl to say, 'enough.'"
"Unfortunately, bullying has been around a long time and it might not ever go anywhere," Perusse said. "So we want to focus on how do we become resilient to that, or how do we address it or deal with it without bullying back or internalizing it?"
In November, about 270 people, many of them teens, attended another movie event that focused on a range of issues. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" addressed issues such as suicide, sexual abuse, bullying, LGBTQ issues and being an outcast.
Perusse said the organizers and sponsors would like to hold three or four events like this each year on different subjects.
Tonight's movie, popcorn and drinks will be free. For teens, a free raffle will be held with prizes including three iPad minis and four day passes to Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave.