Rachel Simmons, author of the New York Times bestseller, "Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls," and a Rhodes scholar and founder of the nonprofit Girls Leadership Institute referred to the Internet as the new "bathroom wall" where girls can vent their aggression toward other girls with anonymity.

She said online bullying is increasingly prevalent because it's often easier to say something mean or unkind online where the person hitting the "send button" is looking only at a screen and not into someone's eyes.

She urged teens to communicate on the Internet only what they would be willing to say to someone face-to-face.

She urged parents to give children explicit guidelines on what is OK and not OK to say on-line.

Simmons also discussed what she considers the unhealthy pressure our culture puts on girls (and women) to "be nice," at the expense of "being real." She said all girls need to find positive ways to express and resolve conflict in ways that allows for a healthy expression of anger and authenticity.

But many girls rely instead on "relational aggression" by using friendship to assert power over others, often through rumors, gossip and hurtful body language. She urged girls in the audience to avoid what she called "part-time friendships" and beware of what she termed "indirect aggression." Indirect aggression is when every sharp comment is quickly followed by a disclaimer, such as "Just kidding" or "I didn't mean it; no offense."

Tags: bullying, girls, school violence