Media Advisory: New York Girl Scout Joins Celebrity Psychologist Dr. Phil to Testify at Congressional Hearing on Cyberbullying

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Jun 22, 2010, 11:30 ET

NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Girl Scouts of the USA:

Event: In testimony to the U.S. House Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, Girl Scout Dominique Napolitano of West Islip, New York, will discuss cyberbullying from a teenager's perspective. As part of her presentation to the subcommittee chaired by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Dominique will explore the challenges young people face in navigating life online and dealing with the bullying that takes place on the Web and through social media.

"It is very important for teens to promote online safety, because many teenagers fall victim to cyberbullying," Dominique said. "Hearing online safety tips from an adult can be boring. The teen may feel like the adult doesn't understand and is not on the same level as them. When the advice is coming from another teen they might feel like the other person knows what they are going through. I am inspired to advocate for teen safety because I want to help save teens from feeling hurt or guilty."

Dominique was among a core group of Girl Scouts who helped develop LMK (www.lmk.girlscouts.org), a leading online safety Web site developed by Girl Scouts in collaboration with Microsoft's Windows division. The site is unique because it is designed to cover such topics as cyberbullying, online sexual predators and cybersecurity from the perspective of young people. Twenty-three Girl Scouts working with Internet safety expert Parry Aftab have developed the online safety tips and advice for parents and young boys and girls.

Also testifying at the hearing will be talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw and Aftab, who is executive director of WiredSafety.org.

When: 10 a.m., Thursday, June 24

Where: Rayburn Office Building, Room 2175, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA