2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
According to a recent study, 26% of millennials admit to having been the victim of cyberbullying at least once in their life.
An alarming statistic, which prompted the Government of Quebec to launch a vast advertising campaign to fight against this growing phenomenon.
The goal of this campaign is to demonstrate that liking, sharing or commenting on a post that conveys bullying can be as harmful as posting the message. “When we continue to promote a hateful publication, we contribute to its propaganda and it can be very devastating for the person concerned,” explains Véronique Blais, communications advisor at TACT. Many people comment or share what they see on social media, unaware of the possible repercussions of that simple little “click”.
Disastrous Consequences
Cyberbullying can deeply hurt those who are victimized. Since it is not physical abuse, it may be more difficult for young people to see the repercussions. This psychological violence, however, greatly affects the victims, resulting in a variety of consequences, both for the person who is affected and for his or hersurroundings. These can affect physical he alth, mental he alth and social relationships and can be even greater if the affected person suffers from anxiety or depression.
Take action
With this advertising campaign, the government hopes to make people, both adults and teenagers, aware of this growing phenomenon. “We want to de-trivialize the phenomenon and help young people to better understand it,” explains Véronique Blais of the TACT agency. People are therefore invited to participate in the everypersoncount movement by sharing the advertisements and videos posted on social networks.
Sensitize our young people
As a parent, it is important to make our child aware of the phenomenon of cyberbullying. Here are some tips to help you on your way:
- Watch videos made by the government with your young people.
- Explain to your childwhat bullying is and make them understand the importance of not sharing posts that spread hate.
- Talking with your kids about the real-world consequencesof cyberbullying.
- Report hateful posts on social media and encourage your child to do the same.
