StopCyberbullying Summit Homepage (click for link)
Carol Todd, Amanda Todd’s Mom will be Joining Us to Share Her Perspective
‘Wherever we go in the world, young people tell us that Amanda Todd’s death after being sextorted, cyberbullied, humilated and bullied offline, inspires them the most. Millions of people have watched her video, and her attempt to explain her decision to take her life. And millions wish they could have told her that she mattered, was loved and wasn’t alone.
The Events:
One Summit – Two Days and Two Different Approaches:
Cyberbullying is a growing problem throughout the world. It affects large percentages, ranging from 20% to 85% of middle-schoolers, based on poll results and estimates. Middle-schoolers told StopCyberbullying that only 5% of them would tell their parents if they were cyberbullied. In a 1000 student poll, 70% of the respondents admitted to having cyberbullied others.
It has become a silent epidemic, stalking our children on social networks, messaging, interactive games and cell phones. While the more dramatic stories have made the headlines most cases are less newsworthy, but no less painful. When asked to guess how many cyberbullying victims have taken their own lives, they typically guess in the hundreds of thousands and even millions. The fact is, not more than a few hundred young people have taken their own lives after being cyberbullied, globally – ever. And that is probably a high estimate. But, even one student suicide is too many.
Cyberbullying has many stakeholders, from families whose lives are shattered by the loss of teens who chose suicide rather than face repeated torment, to students who are afraid to check their e-mail, to teachers being attacked online by students, mental health professionals trying to stay ahead of their patients, to the media trying to grapple with covering a story without further exploiting the victims, to regulators who are seeking answers and the industry who is struggling in its effort to identify and manage risks while attempting to herd cats. More, perhaps, than any other single issue, cyberbullying takes a village to address it. In this first Global StopCyberbullying conference held outside of North America, every member of the village will have a voice. Together we can fashion solutions and encourage change. And by the end of the two days, all stakeholders will know about being part of the solution, instead of part of the problem.
What do we need to know to address the problem and help frame meaningful solutions? What is the role of the Internet industry, media, government, advocacy groups and schools? Over two concentrated days, StopCyberbullying will help all stakeholders understand the problem better and find manageable solutions and collaborations. It will give community participants a chance to be heard, and the industry, media, advocacy groups and regulators a chance to listen and share their own viewpoints.
At a large community “town meeting” hosted in Limerick, Ireland on May 7, 2015, hundreds of students, teachers, parents, law enforcement officers, mental health experts and community leaders will join forces to examine the problem from all perspectives and determine what they need from the important stakeholder leaders and influencers. Check out the goals for the Limerick Community Day and the draft program (subject to change).
On the second day, in Dublin on May 9, 2015, the leaders of the industry, media, regulators, advocacy groups will join students, teachers, parents and other key stakeholders for the “industry day” portion of the conference to address the “wishlist” and issues identified during the first day, look for solutions and identify industry best practices. The community will meet the leaders.
Together we will all understand, from the youth and multi-stakeholder perspective, that cyberbullying hurts and everyone must take it seriously!