COLLEEN OBRIEN

‘Come sit with us’ becomes anti-bullying app

Jan 5, 2018, 11:09 AM

(File, Associated Press)...

(File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

A high school student in California is taking on lunchtime bullying with technology.

More Kindness

That’s because Natalie Hampton was bullied. The bullying was so severe she had to switch schools, but the memories stuck with her.

“So many people walked back and forth in front of my table and all I wanted to hear was ‘Hey are you OK? Come sit with us,’” Natalie told CBS News.

That’s where she got the idea for her very successful app called “Sit With Us.” It’s free to download and private to use. Users can find a lunch group at school without fear of rejection.

She’s been so successful in her anti-bullying movement that she was invited to give a TED talk and today more than 100,000 people use “Sit With Us” in eight different countries.

Natalie’s story was part of CBS’ series called “A More Perfect Union” – aiming to show that what unites us as Americans is far greater than what divides us.

You can hear Colleen O’Brien’s “Daily Dose of Kindness” segment every morning at 7:30 a.m. on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM.

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‘Come sit with us’ becomes anti-bullying app