IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 296 

Recognizing the achievements and contributions of ‘‘Teenangels’’ and 

WiredSafety/WiredKids Executive Director Parry Aftab, in addressing 

the growing problem of cyberbullying in the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2005 

Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California (for herself and Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the achievements and contributions of 

‘‘Teenangels’’ and WiredSafety/WiredKids Executive Director Parry Aftab, in addressing the growing problem 

of cyberbullying in the United States. 

Whereas cyberbullying is defined as the transmission by one 

minor to another minor, through websites, instant messaging, camera phones, cell phones, web blogs, or other 

electronic means, threats of physical harm, terrorist 

threats, comments meant to damage the reputation, embarrass, humiliate, insult, spread rumors, defame, or intimidate; 
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•HRES 296 IH 

Whereas cyberbullying can cause psychological harm, negatively impact academic performance, safety, and the wellbeing of children in school, force children to change 

schools, and in some cases lead to murder or suicide; 

Whereas given the anonymity of all electronic communications, children and adolescents’ sometimes lack of impulse control and underdeveloped empathy skills, the potential for widespread public distribution, limited Internet 

responsible use education, and the inability to appreciate 

the harm caused by cyberbullying, such acts can be particularly dangerous and cruel to youths; 

Whereas as WiredSafety.org and StopCyberbullying.org’s 

studies have found that this problem affects all children 

from 9 years old to 14 years old, and often involves 

cyber-sexual harassment targeting students over 14 years 

of age; and their studies have shown that more than 85 

percent of preteens have had their feelings hurt by someone else online, and a large percentage of preteens and 

teens have had their passwords or identities stolen, and 

an average of 60 percent of the middle school students 

polled admitted to being involved directly or indirectly in 

a cyberbullying incident (in some cases as high as 97 percent of students polled at certain schools admitted to 

being involved in a cyberbullying incident), and that more 

than 65 percent of teens polled have intentionally visited 

Web sites that made fun of their peers; 

Whereas studies also show that parents, teachers, guidance 

counselors, students, and law enforcement agents are 

often ill-equipped to deal with cyberbullying or misunderstand it, thinking that it is merely offline bullying moved 

to cyberspace; 
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Whereas Parry Aftab is one of the world’s leading experts on 

cybercrime, Internet privacy, cyber-abuse, cyberbullying, 

and children’s internet safety and responsible surfing 

issues; 

Whereas Parry Aftab is the Executive Director of 

WiredSafety, an organization that provides help, information and education to Internet and mobile device users of 

all ages which operates StopCyberbullying.org; 

Whereas Parry Aftab is the Executive Director of WiredKids, 

a United States charity dedicated to protecting all Internet users, especially children, from cybercrime and abuse, 

and to helping everyone learn how to protect their privacy 

and security online and to teach responsible Internet use; 

Whereas Parry Aftab and WiredKids founded and direct the 

‘‘Teenangels’’ and their younger counterpart 

‘‘Tweenangels’’, a diverse group of youths ages 9–18 

from all walks of life, from various backgrounds, religions, races, both male and female, who go out into their 

local communities and schools and teach others about 

Internet safety; 

Whereas Teenangels receive months of extensive training 

from Parry Aftab and other cyber-safety experts, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and conduct extensive research on issues affecting Internet safety 

and responsible technology use by children; 

Whereas following training, Teenangels are equipped to do 

presentations at their school, and other schools about 

Internet safety issues; 

Whereas every Teenangels Chapter develops a ‘‘Top Ten 

Internet Safety Tip List’’ for use in presentations on 

software protections, safe surfing engines, interactive 
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gaming, cyberbullying, and other online and computer 

concerns and a ‘‘Kids Internet Bill of Rights’’ that provides, among other things, that young people have the 

right to use the Internet without harassment, 

cyberbullying or sexual exploitation, without having their 

personal information misused, or being redirected to pornography when surfing for their favorite kid sites; 

Whereas Marvel Enterprises (the home of Marvel comics) has 

donated an exclusive license for Dr. Aftab and Wired 

Kids to use their popular super heroes, such as SpiderMan, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men and Fantastic Four, 

in educating parents, schools and children about safe and 

responsible technology use, including 

InternetSuperHeroes.org’s good cybercitizenship programs and custom comic books featuring Teenangels and 

Marvel’s Spider-Man and other super hero characters; 

and 

Whereas there are over 290 Teenangels worldwide, including 

chapters in California, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, and Pakistan, promoting safe and responsible Internet use, and keeping themselves, their families, other 

youth, and their communities educated about Internet 

risks and the dangers of cyberbullying: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends Dr. Parry Aftab of WiredSafety/ 

3 WiredKids and the ‘‘Teenangels’’ and 

4 ‘‘Tweenangels’’ for their vision, innovation, commit5 ment, dedication, and efforts to educating students, 

6 parents, and the public on the dangers of 
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•HRES 296 IH 

1 cyberbullying, and on positive alternatives to 

2 cyberbullying; 

3 (2) supports ‘‘Teenangels’’ education and pres4 entation model, which teaches students, teachers, 

5 and the community to avoid and combat 

6 cyberbullying, and to engage in safe online activities; 

7 and 

8 (3) encourages every school district and com9 munity in the United States of America to establish 

10 ‘‘Teenangels’’ Chapters to educate students about 

11 Internet safety and the dangers of cyberbullying and 

12 empower their youth to become good cybercitizens. 

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