Let’s start talking about cybersupporting #TakeNoBullies

Cyberbullying – it’s in the news, on TV specials, and with bills being introduced across the country, it’s on legislators’ minds, too. The outright cruelty of online bullying provides an incessant stream of content for journalists to cover, research material for academicians, and data to examine.

Cyberbullying gets a lot more attention than its opposite, though. Perform a search on “cybersupporting” and you’re unlikely to encounter any relevant results. Acts of cybersupporting are just as easy as attacking others via cyberbullying, however, and infinitely more satisfying.

#TakeNoBullies
Positive messages like this one are essential in discouraging cyberbullying

There’s a stark contrast between the effects of spreading positivity and disseminating hatred. Reinforcing victims’ courage and empowering bystanders to make their voice heard is one of the most integral tools in taking a stand against cyberbullying. With this notion in mind, a number of groups are advocating for schools and the public to acknowledge how valuable and impactful giving compliments can be.

One example is a group of Iowa high schoolers, dubbed the @westhighbros, that use Twitter to spread praise and kind comments about their classmates.

Other outlets, such as the It Gets Better Project, provides inspiration and a community for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth to communicate messages of cybersupport with each other. Anti-bullying author Carrie Goldman refers to cybersupporting communities as “wonderful groups where people come together for the sole purpose of building each other up instead of trying to tear each other down.” Connecting with others that are being victimized for similar reasons provides comfort in knowing that you’re not alone, and there are others that can commiserate.

#TakeNoBullies
Working together is crucial, in person as well as behind a computer monitor

Image Source

It requires almost no effort; all it takes to spread messages of support is a few words and a click of the mouse. You can create your own cybersupporting campaign, or just as importantly collaborate with an existing cause, but it all begins with realizing that the words used in a tweet or status post have the potent ability to empower others to be kind and respectful.

Taking all of this into consideration, what will you do? Let’s start talking more about the impact we can make as cybersupporters – at that point, cyberbullying is bound to take the back seat.

This article was contributed by SmartSign, the largest B2B sign retailer on the web and sponsor of the anti-bullying and digital responsibility campaign, #TakeNoBullies.

14 Comments

  1. Such a wonderful idea!!!

  2. It is a problem. Another form of bullying is when people post nasty comments about someone not mentioning them by name.Anybody that knows them knows what’s up.If the person tries to speak up they’re censored.

  3. This is a wonderful idea! Bullying is such a horrible thing for anyone to go through. It’s sad that things have gotten so extreme. What happened to the days where if your mother said if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.

  4. It’s great to stand up against bullies. It’s gotten so bad.

  5. What a wonderful campaign! I believe kindness starts at home.

  6. I love what the high school kids did in Iowa!

  7. I think its great about those Iowa students! How awesome!!

Comments are closed.