Mum horrified when daughter tells her about new Snapchat bullying game – but is left proud by her response
Rachaele Hambleton was appalled when her daughter Betsy told her about the new bullying game
A MUM has warned other parents about a disturbing Snapchat bullying game where youngsters compete to see who can say the cruelest thing about a chosen victim.
Blogger Rachaele Hambleton from Devon was appalled after her daughter Betsy told her about the new craze sweeping social media — but was left proud by the 12-year-old's brave response to it.
The game encourages youngsters to try and come up with the worst personal insults about a given child's appearance, weight or personality.
And Rachaele, who blogs under the name Part-Time Working Mummy, was so incensed she decided to write about the horrible trend in the form of an open letter to Betsy.
Writing on Facebook, mum-of-three Rachaele said: "This morning you came into the kitchen and showed me something that had left you upset and confused and I've not been able to stop thinking about it all day.
"You couldn't understand why people you know and like were doing this and repeatedly showed me various names and comments whilst in shock at what was being written about them.
"You wrote your own story on Snapchat - telling everyone how disgusting this new game that they are playing is, you said how cruel and mean people are being and how you want no part in it.
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"You've stood up to hundreds of teenagers, you've not followed suit or joined in with the crowds. I am so proud of you."
Rachaele, 34, who is also a stepmum to two boys, says she was inspired to speak out after hearing about schoolgirls Megan Evans and Nyah James, who were both just 14, and were driven to suicide by Snapchat bullies.
She told Sun Online: "I believe we need to educate our children and help them understand the internet better and stress that bullying takes place just as easily behind a keyboard as it does in person- it is just as harmful.
“If anyone is experiencing bullying I want to encourage them to speak out, if you can’t talk to a teacher then please talk to a family member or a close friend.
“I also appeal to the young people who get caught up in online games like this and think it is just a bit of fun and follow the crowd; don’t do it.”