Have you heard any hot gossip lately? Who's dating who, who said what about whose outfit, what happened at the party. It's pretty hard to avoid gossip these days; it's everywhere. People whisper in the hallways, chat in the break room, and post cryptically on social media.

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that gossiping can really hurt people. False rumours get around and relationships can be damaged. Here are some ways to tone down the gossip in your life.

- Don't participate. If your friends are asking you what you think about that girl's weird haircut, don't join in. Instead of being mean behind someone's back, try being nice instead. So even if you don't like her hair, make a nice comment about her shoes and direct the conversation away from being negative.

- Challenge the rumours. When you hear a rumour about someone, especially if it's something bad, don't let it get out of control. If you're not sure if it's true, don't tell anyone, and encourage your friends not to spread it around, either. If you feel comfortable, ask whoever the rumour is about whether it's something they want shared or not.

- Get help. If you see a rude post on social media or on Stardoll, report it immediately. If gossip is a big problem in your life, if it's making you feel unsafe or hurt, tell a parent, teacher, boss, any adult you trust who can help you out. It's okay to tell them about the gossip, because they're only going to try to stop it.

While it can be fun to talk about other people's lives, try to stay away from gossiping. Never say anything you don't know is true, or that you don't think you should share. Stay safe, and respect others' privacy.

Til next time!

Kat ♥