Stop Cyberbullying Day is an annual day where everybody can get involved and make a difference both on and off-line. Join the movement for action against online bullying and hate campaigns to help create a much safer more enjoyable environment for our children.
Bullying is always unacceptable and young people need to realise that what might seem like a joke – for example posting a horrible photo or nasty remarks online – can have a devastating effect on the victim.
The growth in social media platforms is leaving more people open to cyberbullying, with anonymous users able to target/reach victims by sending abusive or demanding messages. Cybersmile, the UK's first cyberbullying charity, provides guidance to those who have been affected and supplying information to help raise public awareness.
Scott Freeman, Co-Founder of The CyberSmile Foundation comments:
"Stop Cyberbullying Day is a day of positive change online. We are calling on schools, community groups, offices and individuals to join together to support the message of the day: be nice online. By raising awareness of the growing problem of cyberbulling – the bullying and harassment of others via the means of digital technologies with the intention to cause harm – we hope to make a positive change, the effects of which will be felt both online and offline.
"We're inviting the public to join the movement online – by engaging in the conversation online via the CyberSmile website, facebook, twitter and YouTube pages and using the #StopCyberbullyingDay hashtag in social media conversations. We want everyone that has experienced cyberbullying in any of its forms to know that there is a dedicated service offering advice and support on how best to combat this form of bullying.
We want to spread the message that cyberbulling is unacceptable and that, if we can harness the power of everyone who wants to use the internet as a force for positive change, we can go some way towards eradicating this harmful behaviour completely."
The CyberSmile website has useful information for teachers, parents, children and teens or you can ring their helpline: 0845 688 7277
See also Cyberbullying – how parents can help.