Digital safety
Wednesday 23 April 2008
Phone and web companies are getting together to raise awareness of the problem of cyberbullying and try to prevent it.
Digital campaign
Digital companies are sometimes criticised for not doing enough to combat cyberbullying.
This is why 14 digital companies including Vodafone, Orange, O2, T- Mobile, Facebook, Bebo, MySpace, Yahoo and Google are launching a joint campaign to tackle mobile phone bullying and abuse.
The campaign is the first time the companies have come together on a European scale to tackle cyberbullying.
The first step they are taking is to develop a resource that will help teachers promote more responsible use of mobile phones and the web.
Social skills
Bebo has also launched its own initiative called safesocialnetworking.com.
The new site includes videos on how to stay safe online and looks at ways to protect your identity.
It includes simple tips like:-
- Posting photos - think before you post - do you really want the whole world to see that picture?
- Reporting abuse - what do you do if you think you are being cyberbullied
- Tell tale signs of cyberbullying
Your experiences
Cyberbullying can affect people in many different ways and it's not always immediately obvious how to handle it.
Here's what some of you had to say about cyberbullying:-
Tell someone
"Shut down the computor and hope theyl leave you alone. its just like shutting your eyes and hoping that the bully will stop hitting you... mate its not gonna happen..."Anon
Ignoring bullies doesn't mean they go away. Read more.
Does it really happen?
"In real life, you can't stop going to school I can see how you get bullied but cyberbullied how? On MSN and chatrooms you can block and leave the room and on BEBO and Myspace you can not be their friends so how do they contact you without them being on your 'friends list' maybe people like being bullied on the internet for excitment and attention seeking! Anon
"There are IGNORE buttons nowdays you know.. you do not have to be a victim unless you CHOOOSE to be a victim online.. its as simple as that.. Anon
It's a good idea to take care about who you add to your friends or IM list. But there are other ways someone can be cyberbullied including text and picture messaging or even spreading rumours to others about you. Find out more.
Read all about cyber-bullying, take the quiz or send us an email with your story or opinion.
