PCSP Cyber Bullying campaign supports Safer Internet Day
A Borough wide awareness campaign delivered by Limavady Policing & Community Safety Partnership tells cyber bullies that what they are doing is wrong and calls on people to take a stand against them.
The PCSP’s ‘Sticks and Stones or Clicks & Phones’ campaign is being delivered to coincide with Safer Internet Day, 2015. It will be displayed on bus shelter advertising boards rest the rest of the month.
Safer Internet Day was celebrated globally on Tuesday 10th February with the slogan ‘Let’s create a better internet together’.
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration saw hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
Limavady PCSP chair Michael Coyle said: “Across Northern Ireland, reported crimes relating to social media have increased significantly over the past few years.
“With teenagers spending an increasing amount of time online, we identified young people as particularly at risk from cyber-crime.
“The ease of access to social media and other networks provided by Smartphone technology means that children are now rarely if ever ‘offline’.
“The current bus shelter advertising campaign aims to keep awareness of the issue high and offers support to young people who may feel isolated and vulnerable.
“People affected may feel trapped and without a support network. This project will help them to find the support networks they need.
“It also offers a message to those involved in online bullying. It tells them that it is REAL bullying, that it is wrong and that it is being tackled by police.”
The PCSP chair said that the campaign was timed in order to get maximum exposure on the issue.
Mr Coyle continued: “Safer Internet Day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community.
“It calls upon people to join together in helping to create a better internet. Ultimately, a better internet is up to us.”
A Limavady PCSP social media campaign also went live on Safer Internet Day, which encouraged people to share an image to show how fast photographs can spread online. It reached a potential online audience of 28,000 in one day. The image used for the online campaign was used on display banners which are being displayed by all post primary schools across the borough, and within Northwest Regional College’s Limavady campus.
An Limavady PCSP designed awareness booklet - called Cyber Safe, A Parents Guide - was given to all post-primary schools across the borough for staff to hand out at parent/teacher meetings throughout the year. 1000 copies were printed.
A recent OFCOM report claimed that 91 percent of all five to 15-year-olds used the internet in 2012. 13 percent of nine to 16 year olds say they have been bothered or upset by something online in the past year.
The growth of social networking has also contributed to the growing issue of cyber bullying.
Almost half of young people aged between five and 15 in the UK have an active social networking account.