A North Texas teenager who was bullied said she hopes new software can help other kids.
Mouse Mail filters inappropriate or derogatory words sent by e-mail or text message and on social networking sites. The program diverts such messages from the child and instead forwards them to the parent.
Amanda Wandersee, 15, said she was bullied at school and on MySpace. She eventually got into a fight with her bully and was charged in the fight.
Fellow students recorded the fight using camera phones and posted it on the Web. Now Wandersee said she feels she'll never be the same.
"It seriously changed me, because, at first, I was a carefree, happy girl, and it's not like that anymore," she said. "You are nervous everywhere you go, scared, never want to be alone and it's tough."
Attorney Bobbie Edmonds, who defended Wandersee against the fight charges, said Mouse Mail can help, but it's up to parents to if they suspect bullying.
"I don't know if it will work," she said. "I don't know how effective a software program will be to capture or notify parents a child is getting derogatory comments. Will it work, it's a good thing. But we don't know at this point in time."
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Wandersee is seeking counseling at her school and said she is doing a lot better.
Mouse Mail is free and can be downloaded from its website.
