Getting kind online: standing up to cyberbulling
With 62 per cent of young people saying they have received offensive messages online, cyberbullying is a serious issue. But the internet also offers support, kindness and camaraderie. Instead of rejecting the web as an unequivocal evil, how are people using it with kindness in mind?
Whether in the form of support groups, specialist forums or simply the boost that comes from knowing that a friend is a few clicks away, there is kindness out there online – if you know where to look.
Elefriends, created by the mental health charity Mind, is one such forum. People can share what they’re going through and leave messages of support. In a thoughtful twist to the usual thumbs up to ‘like’ a post, users can click an ear, meaning ‘I hear you’. It’s just one example of the web’s anonymity enabling people to open up in a way they struggle to offline.
Anonymity is particularly relevant in countries that have strongly conservative cultures. Global mobile platform Springster wants to empower vulnerable girls in lower-middle income countries. Visitors to the platform can read content about sexual health, puberty and body confidence then ask questions and interact with each other within the comments.
Trained moderators, older teenage girls referred to as ‘big sis’, keep the conversation on track, providing kind words and support when needed. The team responds to thousands of questions and comments from girls every day.
“We can’t change cultural norms alone”, says Lorya Roblin, brand director at Springster. “But we can offer a private space where girls can grow their knowledge and confidence, while nurturing connections with others who are going through the same struggles. We see a lot of messages saying: ‘Go girl’, or ‘I’m there for you’. And it’s completely genuine.”