21 Apr Media Release: WA Youth Gain Support From Youth Legal’s Anti-Cyberbullying Campaign
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MEDIA RELEASE
Young West Australians will gain support to stand up to cyberbullying, thanks to a new social media campaign which will be launched on Monday 25 April encouraging victims to use a ‘#stop’ emoji to call out bullying behaviour and halt it in its tracks.
Not-for-profit organisation Youth Legal Service is building on the success of its previous anti-bullying campaigns to develop this latest initiative which has the theme ‘Be the Power for Good’. It has been heavily influenced by insights received from second year Digital Marketing Strategy unit’s students of Curtin University.
Dr Fazlul Rabbanee, unit coordinator of the Digital Marketing Strategy unit at Curtin University, says it was a great experience for students to work on a real-life project i.e., ‘#STOP cyberbullying’ campaign of Youth Legal Service.
Social media is one of the primary sources of information for youths leaving them more susceptive to bullying and trolling leading to anxiety and depression. It is crucial to stop such unwanted online behaviour for the greater wellbeing of the youth”, says Dr Rabbanee.
Social media is one of the primary sources of information for youths leaving them more susceptive to bullying and trolling leading to anxiety and depression. It is crucial to stop such unwanted online behaviour for the greater wellbeing of the youth”, says Dr Rabbanee.
The digital campaign, the face of which is NOVA937 presenter Ross Wallman, himself a target of cyberbullying, will run until 30 June 2022.
It aims to give young people in the 10 to 20-year-old age bracket more support to take an anti-bullying stance, amidst figures from a recent national survey of 3,500 youngsters by the e-Safety Commission that showed 45% of respondents had experienced hurtful, bullying behaviour online in the past 12 months.
“I am really proud to be part of the Stop Cyberbullying initiative launched by Youth Legal Service,” says Ross. “No one deserves to be bullied and this initiative is something that can really help.
“Online bullying is a serious issue that can have devastating impacts, so I’m right behind our youth standing up to it. We can all make a difference, especially when we are in it together, and I encourage anyone who needs it to use the hashtag stop, and know they are not in it alone.”
David Kernohan, Director at Youth Legal Service, says online cyberbullying remains an increasingly distressing issue for young people and there is much work to do to make the on-line world a safe place for free legal aid for young Australians.
“The reality is that cyberbullying has a hugely negative affect on young people’s mental health which, at its very worst, can contribute to suicide, which is now the leading cause of death among young people,” says Mr Kernohan.
“Those experiencing cyberbullying can use the #stop emoji to disengage from the behaviour and draw attention to it, whilst young people who want to support their friends and people they know who are being bullied can also use the emoji to show their support” says David Kernohan.
“Those experiencing cyberbullying can use the #stop emoji to disengage from the behaviour and draw attention to it, whilst young people who want to support their friends and people they know who are being bullied can also use the emoji to show their support” says David Kernohan.
Youth Legal Services will officially launch its second #Stop campaign on 25 April, across an array of advertising channels including #Stop Cyberbullying in Australia – How to Stop Online Bullying and Instagram #stopbullyingwa
More information about the campaign can be found at stopcyberbullying.org.au, or on Instagram at @stopcyberbullyingwa. More information about not-for-profit organisation Youth Legal Services can be found at: youthlegalserviceinc.com.au
Media contact: Ruth Gourley, Shine Communications, 0434 330 384
Marketing Group: Tonic Digital
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