Teen Who Used To Be Bullied Creates ‘Sit With Us’ App That Helps Students Find Lunch Buddies
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After having to sit alone during lunch in the 7th grade and being the target of bullies, Natalie Hampton, a 16-year-old from Sherman Oaks, California, decided to create an app that helps lonely students find lunch buddies.
Titled ‘Sit With Us’, the app, which was launched on September 9th, helps prevents kids from being publicly rejected. The users know as ‘ambassadors’ create open lunch invites on the app, which signal to other users that are looking for buddies. “This way it’s very private. It’s through the phone. No one else has to know,” she explained to NPR. “And you know that you’re not going to be rejected once you get to the table.” Hampton says people are already posting open lunches at her school, so it’s a good start!
More info: Sit With Us (h/t: huffingtonpost, NPR)
Meet 16-year-old Natalie Hampton
Image credits: Carolyn Hampton
She sat alone during lunch in middle school and was the target of bullies
Image credits: Paramount Pictures
Therefore, she decided to create an app called ‘Sit With Us’
Image credits: Gene Blevins
It helps lonely students find lunch buddies without being publicly rejected
Image credits: Carolyn Hampton
You can download the app here, and let’s hope it will catch on!
Image credits: Carolyn Hampton
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It's a great idea but the character illustrations are of snarky skinny popular types like jocks and cheerleaders. Maybe the characters could be a little more welcoming. I'm a designer so I just see these kinds of things
My thought exactly
As someone who was bullied by both males and females I can tell you that the movie seterotypes of who is and is not a bully are so so wrong in most cases. We mentally label many friendly kocks and cheerleaders as potential bullies because they are what we are not. Popular, easy to talk to whoever they wish, generally highly attractive. Why would they possibly want to be our friend? But In my decade of being bullied, more often than not it was those same people who lifted me up. I've read the same from many help groups online. I was generally bullied by poor kids from broken violent homes, who were no better of socially or financially than I was (also poor from a broken and violent home).
OMFG JOCKS* hahahaha what a typo!
I`m not a designer but I agree. They`re unwelcome and if the app is for teens who get bullied then the characters should be all shapes and sizes etc. They should quirk it up :D :)
Yeah very stereotyping. Especially surprising comming from a bullied person. Gues you are not allowed to sit with bigger/fast people. XD
yeah, that's what I mentioned too in my comment. Designer here too! hehe
Natalie - I am so inspired by you. I wish I could join you for lunch! But I WILL share your app on my FB site. My hope for you is that your app reaches ALL the children out there who long for a friend during lunch. You ROCK!
I'm curious how it prevents bullies from using the app and being vindictive. Which has known to happen in various situations! Great idea!
If bullies abuse the app, they app should have an option to report the bully and the police should be notified. It may result it a nice little stalking charge. I think this app is a beautiful idea. Agree there should be attention given to keeping the app "real" by not just using the stereotypical "beautiful people". Also, users of the app, please try to be true to its purpose. Don't turn into the same clickish people by rejecting new users.
It's a great idea but the character illustrations are of snarky skinny popular types like jocks and cheerleaders. Maybe the characters could be a little more welcoming. I'm a designer so I just see these kinds of things
My thought exactly
As someone who was bullied by both males and females I can tell you that the movie seterotypes of who is and is not a bully are so so wrong in most cases. We mentally label many friendly kocks and cheerleaders as potential bullies because they are what we are not. Popular, easy to talk to whoever they wish, generally highly attractive. Why would they possibly want to be our friend? But In my decade of being bullied, more often than not it was those same people who lifted me up. I've read the same from many help groups online. I was generally bullied by poor kids from broken violent homes, who were no better of socially or financially than I was (also poor from a broken and violent home).
OMFG JOCKS* hahahaha what a typo!
I`m not a designer but I agree. They`re unwelcome and if the app is for teens who get bullied then the characters should be all shapes and sizes etc. They should quirk it up :D :)
Yeah very stereotyping. Especially surprising comming from a bullied person. Gues you are not allowed to sit with bigger/fast people. XD
yeah, that's what I mentioned too in my comment. Designer here too! hehe
Natalie - I am so inspired by you. I wish I could join you for lunch! But I WILL share your app on my FB site. My hope for you is that your app reaches ALL the children out there who long for a friend during lunch. You ROCK!
I'm curious how it prevents bullies from using the app and being vindictive. Which has known to happen in various situations! Great idea!
If bullies abuse the app, they app should have an option to report the bully and the police should be notified. It may result it a nice little stalking charge. I think this app is a beautiful idea. Agree there should be attention given to keeping the app "real" by not just using the stereotypical "beautiful people". Also, users of the app, please try to be true to its purpose. Don't turn into the same clickish people by rejecting new users.