Ep. 243 From Tragedy to Triumph: The Bronsteins’ Fight Against Cyberbullying

In this heartfelt episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker welcomes Rose and Rob Bronstein, founders of Buckets Over Bullying. They share their poignant story of losing their son Nate to cyberbullying and their mission to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak. The Bronsteins discuss Nate's relentless torment through social media, the school's inadequate response, and their journey to advocate for stronger protections for children. They emphasize the need for parent education, school and tech company accountability, and legislative reforms to combat the growing epidemic of online bullying. This episode highlights the crucial need for awareness and collective action to protect our children from digital dangers. Key moments: 02:14 The Incident: A Weekend of Cyberbullying 07:26 School's Response and Legal Battle 10:36 The Aftermath: Seeking Justice 21:46 Wider Implications and National Crisis 23:57 Shocking Cyberbullying Statistics 24:33 The Terrifying Reality of Cyberbullying 27:03 The Crisis of Social Media Harms 29:43 Practical Tips for Parents 30:15 The Importance of Community and Legislation 35:51 The Role of Technology in Protecting Kids Need parenting advice? Grab one of Dr. Meg's coaching spots here. Watch today’s episode 📺 Follow us 📲 About our guests: Buckets Over Bullying is a non-profit initiative by The Bronstein Family Foundation dedicated to eradicating cyberbullying among children and teens. This sports-centric campaign was launched in response to the tragic loss of 15-year-old Nate Bronstein, a Chicago student who took his own life on January 13, 2022, after being incessantly cyberbullied and urged to commit suicide by classmates and teammates via text messages and Snapchat. Buckets Over Bullying aims to prevent such tragedies through education, legislative advocacy, and legal action, promoting responsible digital behavior and holding cyberbullies and their enablers accountable. Our sponsors: K12 Powered Schools: State-certified teachers and trained online educators. Go to K12.com/DRMEG today to learn more and find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you. Crunch Labs: Welcome to your least boring summer ever! Join us in a 12-week virtual summer camp featuring weekly videos, livestreams and mega-experiments from Mark Rober and special guests.  Born Shoes: Step into comfort by visiting BornShoes.com and take advantage of our exclusive offer. Use promo code DRMEG to enjoy a 15% discount and free ground shipping on all full-price shoes. Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing for your future. Head to acorns.com/drmeg or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today!  Cozy Earth: Our goal is to help you create a sanctuary within your home, a refuge from the demands of the outside world. Head to cozyearth.com and use promo code DRMEG for an exclusive 35% off.  Air Doctor: Breathe Easier, Live Better With AirDoctor! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code DRMEG, and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers!  Phyla Biotics: Visit phylabiotics.com, enter code DRMEEKER at checkout, and start your journey to healthier skin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices