Imagine feeling a bolt of dread, instead of a jolt of delight, when your mobile phone bleeps to announce a new text message. For all too many teenage girls, seeing that tiny flashing envelope has become their worst nightmare.

Bullying in schools used to be mostly name-calling and pushing in the playground. But now, a worrying trend has reared its ugly head. Bullies are getting hold of mobile phone numbers and bombarding people with intimidating and upsetting text messages. The worst thing is the victims of text abuse can be targeted at any time - leaving the school gates doesn't mean they've escaped the clutches of the bullies.

Over 16 percent of teenage girls report that they have received bullying or threatening text messages. That's over one in ten of the girls in your class. 29% of those girls haven't told anyone about it, not even their best friend. So if you're a victim of this horrible form of bullying, you must remember that no matter how much you seem to be alone, other people are going through the same thing. If you are brave enough to talk to your mates about it, you might be surprised to find they're having the same problem.

What to Do if the SMS Pests Target You

  1. Keep a diary of when the messages are sent and what they said, then confide in an adult you trust. If you feel you really can't tell anyone you know, you can call Samaritans Of Singapore at 1800-221 4444 - the counsellors there will listen to your worries and give you great advice.
  2. If you don't read the message, what's in it can't hurt you. Whenever you see a message from a text bully, get into the habit of deleting it straightaway.
  3. Remember that it's their phone bill they're running up. When it really gets you down, just imagine their face fall when they get a huge bill at the end of the month - that should make you feel miles better.
  4. Never reply. You'll only feed their interest - if you ignore them completely, they're guaranteed to get bored.
  5. Don't despair. Mobile phone companies are working round the clock to find a solution to text bullying. Soon, the technology will be there for you to be able to block future messages.