"dateline's my kid would never do that" series. bullying online -- think your kid would ever do that? i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. >> can you just, like, shut up? think before you talk. >> reporter: they're mean girls. >> is she crying? >> reporter: and bad boys. >> come on, let's do it. >> reporter: bullying. now, it's not just face to face, it's phone to phone. #nerd. taunting texts, snarky selfies. >> wait, you're gonna take your own selfie? okay. >> reporter: tonight, we put kids to the test. >> it is huge for him to say that to these boys. >> i didn't want them to retaliate on me. >> reporter: with actors playing bullies. >> jeff, you gotta contribute! >> reporter: and victims. hidden cameras rolling. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: and wide eyed parents watching. would these kids stop the mean teens? >> you're crossing lines and it's not funny anymore. >> reporter: or join them? >> she doesn't mind being mean, she just doesn't wanna do it on camera. >> reporter: this time we put

parents on the spot, too. >> ugh, this looks awful. >> reporter: check out this divalicious bully. she look familiar? >> it's terrible. i don't think you know what you're talking about. >> reporter: what will the moms do? >> i'm in shock right now, sorry i can't speak. >> reporter: standing up to bullying. >> my dad saw me yell at people! >> you were phenomenal! >> reporter: see what they did. >> she's got more guts than i do! that's for sure. >> reporter: what about your kid? >> what? >> you're proud of her for that? >> yeah. >> reporter: dateline's "my kid would never do that!" >> hi, everyone. i'm natalie morales. our hidden cameras are about to zoom in on bullying. instagram and facebook, twitter and tumblr, you have to wonder does all this social media make bullying easier? we put kids to the test as moms and dads secretly took it all in from our watch mobile, but this time there's also something new, a grown-up bully, me, to test the parents. so get ready, there are plenty of teachable moments for

everyone. >> online i've seen -- >> #loser. >> you're ugly. >> stupid. >> sluts. >> nerd. >> fatty. >> retarded. >> i've had people tell me to kill myself. >> reporter: it's a painful world kids know all about, but parents have a hard time cracking. the nasty and relentless world of bullying and cyberbullying. >> cyberbullying happens every single second of the day honestly. >> it did start to get me down. >> it made me feel worthless. >> reporter: mean, degrading comments posted for everyone to see. at its worst, cyberbullying's been linked to isolation, depression, even suicide. so what can parents do? tonight, we'll tackle it head on. our "my kid would never" watchmobile is driving through the streets of america's suburbs. parents will watch on hidden cameras from our secret war room filled with special surveillance equipment as their kids take on

one of the toughest challenges of all. >> look at her face, of course, she feels hurt. >> reporter: bullying is a topic we've touched on before. >> move! >> reporter: but never like this. we'll watch as these kids deal with mean bullies in person. >> can you just like shut up? >> reporter: and online. >> now, they're getting really nasty on social media. >> reporter: and there's a new twist -- we turn the tables and point our hidden cameras at the parents. this time, the actor playing the bully is me -- >> ugh, it's terrible. i don't think you know what you're talking about. >> reporter: will these moms know what to do? >> i want you to pick one moment where you look back and are like, this is what i should have done. >> reporter: rosalind wiseman will help us navigate today's complicated world of bullying. she's an educator who's written numerous books on teens, including "queen bees and wannabes," the basis for the movie "mean girls." >> i want parents to realize that their children have probably already been in this experience.

do not wait. sit down with your kid and say, "let's figure out how to handle this." >> reporter: to help kids and their parents figure it all out, we've set up this room with hidden cameras, and hired actors to play our bullies and victims. 14-year-old colette, and 13-year-old jayden are not actors. they think they're here to take part in a focus group. they don't know that their moms are joining me in our watchmobile, parked just outside. >> jayden is a very good student, she is a very good friend. >> reporter: jayden's mother says her daughter has been the victim of cyberbullying. >> some kids made an instagram page and they put pictures of people that they hate that day. and jayden's picture was on there. >> reporter: colette's mom says her daughter has also suffered bullying. >> there was a young man who was coming over to her where she was at her locker, and telling her she should kill herself. and i contacted the school. >> and how did the school handle the situation? >> it stopped, so i'm assuming

they got in touch with the boy's parents. >> reporter: so how will these two girls react when they see someone else bullied face to face, and on the internet? >> i think she's going to know the right thing is to speak up, but i'm afraid that she's going to be like most 13-year-olds and not be able to find her voice. >> phyllis, what about colette? >> from her personality, i would predict that she would definitely speak up. >> okay, are you ready to see how they do? >> sure, yeah. >> hi, i'm jayden. i'm on instagram, vine, tumblr. >> reporter: the kids are all in the room, being interviewed for what they think is our pop culture focus group. then, the visible cameras leave, but our hidden cameras keep rolling. >> i mean, what about "the voice," that's popular. >> oh, i love "the voice." >> reporter: things get off to a friendly start, with the kids all agreeing on their favorite tv show. our bully accomplice is charming. >> where'd you guys get your clothes? 'cause, like, these outfits are

really cute. >> thank you. >> reporter: and our guy bully, is flirty. >> we are big fans of victoria's secret too. >> oh! >> so we're just starting off with really just group dynamics. >> reporter: our parenting expert joins us in the watchmobile. >> here in this situation you've got a bully who is a handsome kid. you wonder if the girls are being influenced at all by that. >> i think that's the way people are wired, forget kids. i mean, we tend to be more attracted to attractive people. >> reporter: in just a few minutes, the social hierarchy is established. the popular kids at one end of the table, the actor playing a nerdy kid at the other. and colette and jayden, right in the middle. >> um -- >> reporter: the bullies soon zero in on jeff and his size. >> yeah, like these jeans are from urban. >> jeff, those are slim fit? >> yeah. >> jeff. >> everything's slim fit on him. >> reporter: the real bullying is about to start. >> jeff, what about you? who is your favorite youtube channel person? >> besides, like food network.

>> reporter: coming up -- some surprise moments for our parents. >> that's so disturbing. >> reporter: and a moment of truth for our teens. >> so were you worried about jeff's feelings or were you more worried about "we're gonna come off looking bad?" >> i can't lie. heller ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ double the lovin' this summer at mcdonald's with the double combo for just $2.50. ♪ let's do a reality check. kids will be kids. dogs will be dogs. so let's get some paint that's more than just paint. made to stand up to this... and look beautiful for years. let's loose the old marks, and messes. and stop new one's in their tracks. let's worry proof our walls.

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>> reporter: we're watching these actors play out a familiar and upsetting scene. bullies picking on someone they think is vulnerable. in this case, they tease our victim -- also an actor -- about his weight. >> jeff, what about you? who is your favorite youtube channel person? >> besides, like, food network. >> reporter: stuck in the middle

are two unsuspecting teens -- 14 year old colette and 13 year old jayden. they have no idea these mean kids are actors, as they lob zingers at our overweight victim. >> j-law from hunger games, which jeff has never had to deal with in his life. >> they're starting to ratchet up the bullying. everything is fat jokes. >> reporter: the bullies compare him to a bloated movie character. >> do you like charlie and the chocolate factory, jeff? >> jeff based his costume today off of the girl who plays the blueberry girl. >> and they're also getting uncomfortable. >> i think they're getting -- >> that's why they look at their phone all the time. >> reporter: but the girls can't avoid the bullying on their phones either. our actors are going after our victim online too. the kids are using their phones to rate some viral videos as part of our focus group. when our victim says he likes this video, featuring weird al --

>> soup's on! >> i really liked the weird al one -- >> reporter: our bully pounces and starts cyberbullying. he sends a mean message to everyone in the group except our victim. the girls don't know it, but we're following their on-line conversation from our watchmobile. >> our actor, the bully, he's like, "oh yeah, this guy thought weird al was the funniest, probably because it's the only one including food." >> reporter: the girls see the message. >> jayden totally saw the one about the boy. >> because she looked at him, and she was wondering if he saw it. >> reporter: will they be tempted to join the cyberbullies? or will they speak up for our victim? their moms watch anxiously. >> are they just not responding? >> reporter: the girls begin typing. and it's not to defend our victim. they chime in with the bullies. >> ok, so jayden said "he's annoying me." >> oh, see? >> and colette's like "omg, wow, lmao." laugh my tushie off -- >> reporter: their on-line conversation continues. it seems this is where the girls feel safe confiding. but remember as part of our ruse

we interviewed them on camera earlier. and suddenly they get worried they're being recorded right now. they say nothing in the room, but on-line -- >> okay, so jayden wrote "omg guys we have to stop being mean to jeff, they're definitely recording us." so she's worried about being recorded. >> so she's -- doesn't mind being mean, she just doesn't wanna do it on camera. >> yeah. >> that's a conversation. >> reporter: jayden follows up with "omg guys, we're so evil." >> clearly they're saying, let's stop this conversation, which is a good thing. but it seems to me that came from more out of -- >> fear. >> or getting caught. >> of getting caught. >> reporter: in the room, the body language is clear -- our victim is iced out. >> they're excluding him completely. it's so disturbing. that she wouldn't be more sensitive to the fact that he's being excluded, when she herself has been excluded at times. >> jeff, you've got to contribute something, man. >> reporter: but as our victim shuts down, jayden seems to really feel for him. she doesn't say anything to the

bullies face to face, but pushes back on-line. >> "i honestly feel bad. he's so quiet. i'm just like ugh, bad person." she feels bad about it. >> hi! >> reporter: it's time to let the kids know what's really going on. >> okay? did you guys all work together as a team? >> yup, some of them we had struggles with -- >> well, you're not really here for the focus group. we're actually doing a show called "my kid would never do that." these guys are actors, the bullies, jeff is the victim. did you guys feel like it was intense in here? >> yeah. it was kind of intense. >> it was intense and very quiet. >> did you feel at one point that you ever wanted to speak up for jeff -- >> i did feel bad for jeff. i wanted it to stop. >> reporter: we tell the girls we've not only been watching them, but reading their comments on-line as well. >> so were you worried about jeff's feelings? or were you more worried about, "we're gonna come off looking bad." >> a little bit of -- >> i can't lie, a little bit of both. but i can't say it was just

"they're recording us." >> were you afraid to speak up, because maybe you would become a target? >> i guess i'm just used to being silent about stuff. i was trying to deflect it. >> reporter: our expert comes in and explains how that can send a dangerous message to the victim. >> do you see that by, like, by doing that, and, like, "let's just stay out of it," looks like you're totally siding with them? >> yeah. we did look like we were siding with them. >> reporter: the girls tell us they know what it feels like to be in the victim's shoes -- >> i've had extreme experiences with bullying on multiple occasions. >> sometimes i've been bullied at my school, and then it's just like so awkward you don't want to say anything you just sit there. >> reporter: wiseman wants parents to know that kids who've been victimized can actually have a harder time speaking up. >> it makes me think as a parent, "what more should i be doing?" how many more conversations, how many different ways should we have the conversations that we're having. >> me and my mom are close. we're close. >> i applaud you guys for being so honest and open, and be willing to, you know, share what you have gone through to teach

others. >> reporter: our next teen hasn't been bullied himself, but his sister says she was the victim of nasty cyberbullying. meet connor. >> i'm 13 years old and i use instagram. >> reporter: his dad says even though connor's in an unfamiliar environment - - >> i think he'll stand up for himself or if someone else is being picked on. i think he would stand up. >> reporter: this time we've switched up some of the actors. these two guys are the bullies, and this actor is playing our awkward victim. we leave them alone to answer the pop culture questions. when our victim says he likes a particular tv show -- >> maybe like "dance moms" is ular. >> reporter: our bullies dive right in. >> who are you? what kind of suggestion was "dance moms"? >> i mean unless you like to dance around in your house with a leotard on while watching "dance moms." >> oh, that's not cool? >> reporter: at first, connor laughs along, but then the bullies make fun of our victim's sweater, and his hair. they compare him to a "harry potter" character.

>> he looks like the guy who plays ron weasley, if ron weasley were to wear glasses and a shirt made out of autumn leaves. >> okay, do you see that he's feeling nervous about his laughing. >> and he's looking at him. >> reporter: connor looks like he's having fun with the guys, but also seems concerned about our victim. >> favorite clothing brand? leaves. >> so he laughed. >> reporter: but watch what he does next. >> i like leaves. >> trying to make him feel a little better. "i like leaves." >> reporter: connor begins aligning himself with our victim. watch how he disagrees with the bullies about the best video game. >> i think it's more like a "call of duty" kind of thing. >> yeah, i think "call of duty" would be more -- >> don't kill me when i say i don't like "call of duty." >> that's huge for him to say that to these boys. >> it might not look like it. that's huge for him to say he doesn't like "call of duty." >> reporter: and he defuses the tension with humor. >> i love jennifer lawrence. >> uh huh, i can tell. she's my wife.

>> she's my wife? >> did i ever tell you guys? >> nice. atta boy. i know a lot of people like ariana grande. >> she's my wife too. don't tell jennifer lawrence. >> reporter: and maybe most important of all, he repeatedly includes our victim, even when the bullies are at their meanest. >> we don't really need to worry about ed's input anymore. >> what do you think, ed? >> there you go. what do you think ed? cut him off there. >> reporter: connor has taken crucial steps to support our victim in the room. but things get more complicated when the bullying goes cyber. >> this is a lot for him to deal with. >> reporter: coming up -- >> no wonder why he voted "harry potter." that's who he bases his outfit on. #nerd. that's harsh. what will connor do? >> reporter: then -- >> think before you talk! >> reporter: here come the mean girls with a selfie that stings. >> oh, wow. >> things are getting mean. >> reporter: when "dateline" continues.

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>> reporter: in his own quiet way, 13-year-old connor has done his best to help the actor being bullied in this room. >> what do you think ed? >> reporter: but what will he do about the cyberbullying? it's something his older sister alyssa says she's had to deal with. >> they said i look digusting. i look like a rat. they picked on what i look like, my nose. >> reporter: alyssa says cyberbullying can be fast and furious, with kids piling on

mean comments. >> adults could usually say oh just ignore them, brush it off but it can really get to someone's child if it's constantly happening every single day. they don't feel the loneliness that their child might feel. >> reporter: now, her brother connor is about to deal with some cyberbullies. and their dad is watching from our watchmobile. the bully takes a picture of our victim, and posts it with this comment. >> he's like, "no wonder why he voted harry potter. that's who he bases his outfit on. #nerd." >> and then connor sees all the comments? >> connor sees he's following. >> reporter: the bully turns up the heat, calling our victim "the biggest nerd ever" and then writing -- >> the latest comment, you'd be so much better if you wore a bag over your head." >> reporter: this time, one of the bullies actually asks connor to "like" the post. >> but you totally got to like it.

or leave a comment or something. >> this is a lot for him to deal with. >> reporter: connor appears deep in thought. after one more look at our victim, he decides what to do. he puts his phone down, practically out of reach. the message is clear, he won't join in. >> he literally was being pressured by somebody, and he didn't do it. >> he shows compassion to people that are getting picked on. and i pretty much felt that he would do that. >> reporter: we come in to congratulate him on everything he did right. >> i was sitting there. and i was saying "my god. this child is trying --" >> everything. >> every single thing you could. >> were you trying to say something? or trying to put words. >> i wanted to say something. i wanted to help but i didn't want them to retaliate on me. >> reporter: it's best, says wiseman, to say something short and effective to the bullies, like "stop it." but if you can't, you can still send a powerful message without saying a word. like connor did when he pushed his phone away. >> where did you feel the biggest resistance, where was it

the hardest to keep going? >> i mean, the whole thing was so hard to keep going because he's just such a good kid, you know? i just felt so bad. >> can i give you a hug? cause i know what you're feeling, this is a lot to deal with. by the way, i'm your new wife. jennifer lawrence is not your wife. >> reporter: a lot of kids told us they feared retaliation if they confronted the bullies. but there's another reason kids don't speak up, and it's a hard one to admit to. sometimes, they just don't like the victim. but that, says rosalind wiseman, is no excuse. >> you can acknowledge it. "yup, this person's annoying." there will be annoying people in the world. but just because there's somebody who doesn't get along, or you don't feel as much in common with, does not therefore mean that you just turn your back on them. >> reporter: so what will happen when our victim is angel, an actress who we asked to appear immature, awkward, even irritating.

>> think of the person who interrupts all the time and tells their own story. >> reporter: angel says when she was younger, she was targeted by bullies. >> i apparently had a reputation for being annoying in school. >> reporter: let's see how our next teens do. first up, grace. >> i'm 13 and i use instagram. >> reporter: and bianca, who's in the 8th grade. i'm in the watchmobile with their parents. grace's dad says she's outgoing, into music and theater. he's told her to try to avoid any situations that involve bullying. >> is she going to say something or back off and back out of the situation? >> it depends on how far it goes. i'll be curious to see what, like her facial expressions are and how she's, you know, what's going through her mind in a way. my gut would be that she'll stay out of it as long as she can. >> bianca's mom says her daughter is quiet, an avid reader and not big on social media. she also says bianca has been the target of terrible bullying, some of it, even physical. >> so she knows how it feels to be the victim. >> yeah.

>> reporter: she says she's told bianca to speak up for herself. >> if you don't do anything, they're constantly coming back because you're not defending yourself. they're like, you know what? you're an easy target. i don't want her to be an easy target. >> ok, you ready to see how they do? >> yeah. >> here we go. >> reporter: this time, we have an all girl group with actors playing our bullies and our victim, who's been asked to be annoying. before long, it becomes apparent that angel isn't fitting in. >> it makes me think, oh my god. my cousin has this adorable little corgi. and he's so, so hyper. and he's just running around on all these really stubby little legs. and he just runs around all the time like this. so cute. >> angel. >> angel, like, sorry. we just need to be -- >> what. >> like, you're talking a lot. and we just need to, like, get through all these. >> reporter: then they make fun of her favorite social media site. >> a lot of, a lot of teenagers use tumblr, like, really, really often. >> i don't think anyone uses tumblr. i think it's a little more like you're indoors a lot. >> reporter: and they mock her when she imitates a youtube

character. >> hi, everyone. i'm cutie pie. >> wait. can you say it again? >> one, one more time. >> it's really funny. >> just, just one more time. >> she just seems not there. >> what gives you the indication that she's not there? >> she's just not, she was just on the phone. i don't know, maybe she's trying to stay out of it. >> reporter: now for the cyberbullying. will it be easier for the girls to push back on-line? the mean girls take a picture of our victim when she's not looking, and send it with this comment. angel loves weird al. big surprise that the weirdest girl likes weird al." bianca doesn't respond but grace chimes in. >> crying. >> crying in all ways. >> reporter: that's cyber slang for laughing so hard you're crying. >> grace, your daughter, "crying" so your daughter is joining in a little bit. it's tough, because, you know,

that's how kids, they want to be a part of the conversation. >> reporter: then, the bully takes it one step further. >> they're getting really nasty on social media. >> reporter: she takes a selfie with just bianca and grace, and sends it to them with the comment "so glad you guys are here." and then -- >> can angel like, shut up? guys, ignore her. >> oh wow. >> so now, they're telling your girls to exclude angel. >> oh wow. >> reporter: what will the girls do this time? remember bianca hasn't commented on any of the posts, and this time, grace doesn't either. >> angel, can you just like, shut up? cause like everything you're saying is kind of like bringing us down. think before you talk. >> so it's getting mean. >> really silent in the room. it's almost like your own girls are afraid to contribute any answers. >> yeah, they're kinda backing off. >> reporter: the girls become more quiet, though grace remains friendly with the bullies. >> i'm going to ask your daughters about laughing, about

why you laugh in certain situations. because sometimes you laugh cause you're nervous and you don't know what to do. >> i mean some of it i think, in a group dynamic, you're trying to maybe get the group back on track too, you know. >> totally. >> you know, almost involuntary. >> reporter: it looks like the girls aren't going to defend our victim, in the room, or on-line. so we get ready to wrap it up. >> i know it's hard to tear your eyes away. >> reporter: but suddenly, a dramatic reaction, turns everything around. >> is she crying? >> it looks like it. >> reporter: coming up, she may be the actress, but these emotions are real. >> are you ok, angel? so what really happened here? >> reporter: and later, a real challenge for the parents. >> ugh, this looks awful. >> reporter: a grown-up bully puts our moms to the test. how will they do? >> i am in shock right now. sorry, i can't speak!

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>> reporter: grace and bianca have watched our bullies pick on a girl who isn't fitting in. >> angel, can you just like shut up. >> reporter: though the girls have clearly sensed the tension, they haven't confronted the bullies or reached out to our victim. but just as i'm about to leave

our watchmobile with their parents to meet them, this happens. the actor playing our victim starts to cry. >> it looks like angel is, you know -- >> wow. >> upset, like emotional. >> reporter: her emotional reaction sparks something in bianca. she reaches over and touches angel's leg, and gives her a reassuring look, even asking angel for her phone number. >> just write it on my hand. >> reporter: and then watch what happens. as the other girls prepare to take a selfie, bianca makes sure angel comes over to get in the shot. and when she sees angel didn't make it in -- >> is that one good? >> i don't know, i don't think we all got in. >> reporter: she makes them take it again. >> maybe we should get up 'cause so we can all fit in. >> reporter: as they pose, there's no question whose side bianca is on. she wraps her arm around angel and keeps it there. >> nice. so your daughter did something for the victim. you're proud of her for that? >> yeah, i really am.

>> did you guys all work together as a team? >> reporter: i go to meet the girls, and that's when it becomes clear that even though this is an acting job for angel, the nasty comments have brought back a lot of real memories. >> are you okay, angel? okay, so what really happened here? i'll tell you what really happened we're doing a show called "my kid would never do that." and actually angel's an actress. you two are really here about bullying. >> what? >> yes. >> oh my god. >> it's a show about bullying and it was hard. this is no act. this is -- >> this -- >> you really -- >> this isn't. it brings back so many memories because for me, like, i had gone through this before as a kid as well. and so i want to say to you, bianca, thank you for pulling me aside. when she saw that i started crying, she started comforting me. >> where did that come from bianca? >> well, i get bullied a lot too. so i really know how it feels. >> now, grace, did you pick up on the bullying?

>> yeah and i didn't want to say anything because everyone here is really nice. >> reporter: we tell them we've been reading the comments they posted online. remember, when one of the bullies called our victim "weird," grace went along. >> not to put you on the spot, but it's a natural thing, i think, for kids to wanna feel like they're a part of the conversation on social media. so you chimed in there on that maybe just, you know, did you feel like you had to get them to like you? >> well, i felt more of a connection to them. 'cause, like, i -- i didn't really have any, like -- you know, anything in common with you, angel. >> reporter: and that's the whole point of our demonstration, says wiseman, who comes in to talk to the girls. >> it shouldn't matter if you're like those people or not. like that you have stuff in common with them or not. 'cause if someone's being mean and they're different, then that actually should be the flag of wait, that is totally wrong. >> i regret doing like a lot of things. like, i feel i should have kind of went with bianca.

and she did the right thing. >> that's very brave of you to say that. >> wow, that's mature actually. >> it takes a lot of courage. >> reporter: when it comes to cyberbullying, wiseman says it's not enough for parents to simply tell kids, "be nice." they need to be taught exactly what to do. >> i want you to think about what's a short thing you would say online. not something you would say, like, in person, you know, because they're different. so when you're online, you need to say something short, like, that stops it, right? >> like -- >> so what do you wanna do? >> that's not funny. >> all right. >> or, like, you know, "just stop." >> i think "not funny" and "stop" are both good because there's nowhere to go from there. >> do you feel like you learned a lot from this? >> yes. >> yes. >> reporter: and so did their parents. >> it was a good learning experience. i think you made some very good points about how there is going to be conflict, there are difficult things we have to deal with in life. and that's how you mature and you know, become a better person and a better adult. >> reporter: for our next group,

we have a big surprise for the parents. but we'll start with their kids, natalie and lindsey, both 13. >> ok, so reality show. "keeping up with the kardashians." >> "keeping up with the kardashians." i watch that, i have to be honest. >> reporter: i'm monitoring from from our watchmobile with lindsey's mother. >> she is really sweet, sensitive, athletic, and i would say very empathetic. >> reporter: and natalie's mom. >> natalie is a sweet girl. she's a very warm person. i think that she cares about what people are thinking about her. i think that she wants to be liked. >> reporter: so how do they think their daughters will react? >> if she will speak up, 50/50 chance. >> i think if it's something that she's sensitive to, i think that she will speak up. >> you ready to see how your kids do? >> let's see it. >> reporter: we have the same team of actors playing mean girls and victim. our bullies jump right in. >> angel, going based on some of your other answers, i think maybe we should just not listen to that input at all. >> lindsey just looked at

natalie. >> reporter: the bullies attack our victim's appearance. >> i know you definitely don't look at beauty video tutorials on youtube. >> reporter: the girls seem to notice that our victim is hurt. they look at each other again, and change the subject. >> oh yeah, yeah! >> when she says something rude, they're not even responding, the girls. they're just going on to the next subject. like -- >> they're avoiding. they're avoiding. >> is there anything you'd like your daughter to be doing differently right now? >> well, it would be nice if she said, "oh, let's just hear what angel has to say." or, "that story's interesting to me." >> reporter: though the girls seem troubled, they don't say anything. but what will they do when the bullying goes virtual? our mean girls make fun of our victim angel, "weird girl likes weird al." natalie and lindsey see the post, but seem at a loss as to what to do. >> they're not partaking in the meanness. >> they're not liking. >> they don't want to be contributing to it.

positive, pro, but con is they're not stopping it. >> you guys good? >> reporter: i go in to tell the girls what's really happening. >> oh my god. >> reporter: and they tell me something we didn't know. they were texting each other, having a private conversation we couldn't see. >> i said, "i know, right? it's a little intense." >> i said, "seriously?" and then i wrote #bullies. >> reporter: they tell us what a lot of kids told us tonight. they felt bad for our victim, but couldn't find the right words to confront the bullies. something even adults can relate to. >> i think that there's no age limit on when we face these issues and learn how to deal with them better. >> reporter: would we as parents know what to do? >> i was stunned. i was in shock. >> reporter: we decided to turn our hidden cameras on the adults. it's time for our very first edition of "my parent would never do that!" coming up -- >> two layers of booty! >> reporter: a diva in disguise! >> just let me do it.

>> you're sure you're a make-up artist? >> reporter: how will our moms react to a bully in their midst? >> she was like, "are you really a make-up artist?" >> did you say anything? >> reporter: when "dateline" continues. i'm trying my best. seriously, i'm...i'm serious. request to come ashore. geico. saving people money on more than just car insurance. ♪ recently we've noticed some ads created by these two birds inviting you to stay away from the streak free shine of windex. well dear windex users these ads are

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♪ da da da da ♪ ♪ da da da da ♪ ♪ da da da da ♪ ♪ da...♪ sorry brenda. crystal geyser. bottled at the mountain source. da da da. >> reporter: tonight, we've put kids to the test. >> what? >> reporter: seeing how they

react to bullying. many of them struggled, but here's a question -- do we, as parents, really know what to do? >> when it comes to bullying and preventing bullying, are we giving them the right tools? >> i don't think we are. i don't think we're giving them specific tools. sometimes it's because i think we don't know the specific tools. we're not told and taught ourselves. >> reporter: and that's a problem, our parenting expert says, because our kids watch us constantly. what happens if we don't confront a bully, or worse, act like bullies ourselves? >> you're being a terrible role model. all the children see it. and they talk about it. children talk about crazy parents all the time. >> reporter: it's not just what we say, but what we do. so we decided it was time to point the hidden cameras at the parents. they're the role models -- will they know what to do? >> okay! >> reporter: this time, i'm playing the bully. i need a good disguise. first, i get some new curves. >> oh my god, there's layers. >> two layers of booty. >> reporter: next up -- a

wardrobe change. >> so good. >> reporter: then, it's time for a new face. i get a prosthetic nose. >> how's the profile? >> reporter: a wig. glasses. and long pink nails. my physical transformation is complete -- but can i really play a believable bully? >> this is the easy part. the hard part is coming up next. >> reporter: here's what we did. it's the night before we start testing kids. we invited two of the moms -- stacy and allison -- to come to our studio for a pre-interview. they don't know i'm involved in the project, so they're not looking for natalie morales. we're all backstage getting our makeup done, and i'm pretending to be just another mom like them. >> hi, ladies. >> hi. >> reporter: they don't seem to recognize me. my victim is an actor playing the role of a makeup artist. >> you just got powder all over me. >> reporter: i get right to work in front of the unsuspecting moms.

>> have you done this before? >> yeah. >> no. this looks awful. >> reporter: i escalate the nastiness -- >> god, i'm gonna look like a corpse with this. >> reporter: and treat the makeup lady like she's worthless. >> it's terrible. i don't think you know what you're talking about. >> just -- just let me do it. you're sure you're a makeup artist? >> reporter: the women clearly seem uncomfortable -- stacy makes a face and allison turns away from me. they laugh nervously. but they don't say a word about my behavior. >> are you sure you've done this before? >> reporter: i leave the room unchecked. >> hi! >> reporter: but when the real makeup artist arrives, the two women can't stop talking about me. >> wait 'til you talk to your counterpart. >> she was like, "are you really a makeup artist? do you know if you have the right colors?" >> did you say anything? >> no. i was stunned. i was in shock. >> reporter: as they talk things over, the moms seem to second guess themselves, wondering if they should have done something. >> i guess we should have said, listen, really, it's no big deal. >> reporter: in fact they seem so troubled by it. they recount the story again, this time to one of our

producers. >> the other mom here, she was like, a little bit, you know, abrasive. >> very abrasive. >> to the makeup artist. so, it was like weird. >> i am in shock right now. sorry, i can't speak. >> reporter: it was the very next day that i sat down with them, without a disguise, and watched their daughters do exactly what they'd done -- notice the bullies, talk about it amongst themselves, laugh nervously and say nothing to stop it. now with everyone in the room -- >> it's not just you guys who have a hard time speaking up! take a look! >> reporter: i show them clips from the day before. >> ugh, this is awful. >> reporter: and reveal that i was the bully. >> that's what you were doing yesterday. >> yeah! >> reporter: a bit of payback for the girls, and a reminder for the adults -- dealing with a bully is tough at any age. >> quite frankly, and maybe the girls felt the same way, like, i didn't really want to get too

involved. >> big learning. >> for everyone. >> for everyone. >> the great thing is, is the parents learned as much as the kids this time around, right? >> absolutely. >> reporter: so far, we've seen that even grown ups have a hard time confronting bullies head on. we've got one more group. but if parents can't do it, how can we expect the kids to? >> reporter: coming up -- >> look at her face. of course she feels hurt! >> reporter: our most powerful defense yet. >> got more guts than i do, that's for sure. get a galaxy s6 active for zero down and get a free samsung tablet.

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>> reporter: we've seen how hard it is, even for adults, to confront a bully. and we've heard how devastating the effects of bullying can be. >> it made me honestly feel horrible. >> it was like really hurtful to me. >> i couldn't concentrate in class. >> reporter: so far, no one has directly called our bullies out. but there's someone in our last group who should be up to the challenge, 15-year-old kailyn. her parents say they've always talked to her about how to deal with confrontation. and after she was bullied she started an anti-bullying campaign. >> they've had meetings after school and kids have made posters throughout the school and that kind of stuff. >> reporter: she also has a brother with special needs, which has made her even more empathetic and protective. with all these experiences, surely kailyn will be the one who finally confronts our bullies, right? well, not so fast. >> saying something at school, where you're comfortable, is one thing. but in a room full of people you

don't know, it's going to be more difficult. >> reporter: joining her is 14-year-old brittany, an outgoing girl who's into sports. her mother says brittany's been bullied on her school bus. she doesn't know how her daughter will react today. >> i'm not so sure. i think it's 50/50. >> reporter: remember, kailyn and brittany think they're here to answer questions about what teens like. >> i want you guys to have a consensus. >> reporter: but our bullies -- remember, they're actors -- have a different agenda. once again, they quickly single out our victim, dismissing her input about the best tv show. >> i could see some of the like nerdier people in my class totally watch all of those. but -- >> they're like nerd specific. >> reporter: and they compare her to a geeky character from television. >> she's like the nerdy character. and everyone sort of, i mean everyone sort of picks on her. she's like so out of it. >> reporter: kailyn and brittany are clearly aware of what's going on and don't seem to like it. >> so you've read like "lord of the rings" a bunch of times? >> yeah, i like read the "lord of the rings" series.

>> do you know, like elvish? >> oh, my god. so funny. >> reporter: kailyn tries to stare them down with a long, hard glare. >> i don't think your daughter likes those girls any more. >> your daughter gave them a good, cold, hard stare. >> reporter: if looks could kill, our bullies would be toast by now. but she doesn't say anything. >> no offense, but you're not like super with it. >> reporter: kailynn's jaw literally drops, as the bullies keep going. >> you should give us the video game answer. 'cause we don't play video games, 'cause we like, have social lives. >> reporter: finally, she's had enough. >> i think that was really disrespectful, like i'm not trying to be disrespectful to you guys, but just 'cause her taste isn't your taste doesn't mean you can really like pick on her. >> reporter: kailyn directly confronts the bullies, and doesn't stop. >> you can disagree with her but i don't think it's very nice to shoot her down. >> reporter: when the mean girls try to exclude angel from a group selfie, kailyn has an answer for that too. >> here, we'll take our -- it's

okay, you guys. we don't want to be in it. we'll take our own. >> reporter: brittany seems caught in the middle, unsure of what to do. >> like, what video game? >> reporter: things escalate with the cyberbullying and this time, it gets meaner. the bullies make fun of our victim, writing "only angel would think this video is the best video," and they make it public, so she can see it. >> guys, you know i can read the comments. >> it's just a joke. it's just a joke! >> reporter: but kailyn won't give them an inch online either. >> you're crossing lines and it's not funny anymore. it's really not funny. >> like, do you feel hurt, angel? 'cause, like, we were just, like, you know -- >> look at her face. of course she feels hurt. >> reporter: kailyn's confidence seems to help brittany find her own voice. >> guys, you shouldn't be doing something like that. >> i think britney's hearing her and kind of saying, "okay, i need to also be a little bit more assertive about this." >> reporter: on top of everything kailyn's done today, she goes one step further. she genuinely befriends our victim. >> i think that your taste is

really cool. >> thanks. >> and i would love for you to teach me about it more. for real. >> your daughter is so sweet. oh my gosh. i love your daughter. i want to be friends with her. wow. how do you feel about that, david? >> i'm very proud. that's kailyn. >> reporter: her dad is overcome. >> got more guts than i do. that's for sure. >> reporter: i go and tell the girls we've been watching on hidden cameras. >> my dad saw me yell at people. >> no, you were phenomenal! >> reporter: wiseman admires how kailyn handled the tough situation with ease. >> you, being able to articulate a really good, strong opinion is not yelling at people. you did that in an assertive way that was absolutely perfect. >> reporter: wiseman says even though brittany wasn't as vocal, she too helped shut down the bullies. >> i was watching your body language. at one point, you completely turned towards angel. so i just wanted to encourage you that, like, the small things that you were doing actually make a difference. >> come on in parents.

give your kids a big hug. >> reporter: both their parents couldn't be prouder. >> getting a little emotional, huh? david, did you learn something about your daughter today that you didn't know before this? >> she's got, you know, 1,000 times more guts than i do. >> big hugs all around. >> excellent job, ladies. >> reporter: bullying may be one of the most complicated situations you and your kids will ever face. you won't get it right every time, but the important thing is, to keep trying. >> i want parents to realize this doesn't make them bad parents or their kids bad kids. it's that we're in messy communities where conflict happens. sit down with your kid and say, "you know what? bad things are gonna happen. so let's figure out how to handle this so you can be proud of it and i can be proud of it." >> reporter: we want to say a big thank you to all the families who took part in our "my kid would never do that" series. you can find more advice for kids and parents on our website at datelinenbc.com. that's all for this edition of "dateline."

we'll see you again friday at 10:00, 9:00 central. i'm natalie morales. for lester holt and all of us at . [ cheers and applause ] jonas: since i was a kid i've loved to entertain. this is unbelievable! scherzinger: performing is what makes me feel alive. oh, my god! ciara: if it doesn't scare you why bother? that's insane. oh, my god! [ cheers and alause ] wayans: i'm marlon wayans. welcome to my brand-new show "i can do that." over the next six weeks, our multitalented players will go head-to-head in pairs to try to pull off wild new acts that are nothing like their day jobs pushing their limits to entertain in ways they never imagined. oh, i want to do that!