A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that in 2018, 59% of teenagers in the U.S. have been bullied or harassed online. 46% of teens said they have been called offensive names online or via cellphone and 32% said that they have had false rumors spread about them online

Statistics from various worldwide reports indicate that on average, over 30% of young people around the world have experienced cyberbullying or online abuse. Remember, cyberbullying can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or gender - wherever they are in the world

Digital Civility means accepting your responsibility to engage with people online respectfully and with the same human compassion that you show people in your life, offline. It’s all about applying the same principles of civility that you practice in real life - to your digital life

Learning and practicing digital civility is essential if we are to keep the freedoms of expression that we enjoy online safe from restrictions and erosion by those who choose to use the internet as a weapon to hurt and abuse others. We have the power to shape how our online world is evolving – for the betterment of every online citizen

Cyberbullying takes many forms and affects millions of people each year. Cyberbullying can happen through any form of connected technology such as the internet, cellphones and social media

Whatever the underlying issues, a bully behaves in that way because they are behaving as a bully. It is not because of your opinions or what you look like or how you express your individuality, it’s because they have issues that need dealing with

Cyberbullying, online abuse and harassment can happen to anyone, anywhere in the world

Netiquette is literally a modern version of etiquette - on the internet. Communicating without the benefits of face-to-face contact, body language, tone of voice and facial expression makes it difficult to convey your true intentions online. Thinking about what you are saying and how you are saying it, is just as important online as it is offline. Always think before you send

Using capital letters all the time is the same as SHOUTING for an entire conversation. Bad netiquette can create or escalate misunderstandings into something much worse, so always be mindful of what you are saying and how you are saying it

Good netiquette is also about respecting other people’s privacy and sharing responsibly as well as behaving respectfully. You will also find aspects of netiquette in the codes of conduct that most online communities and social media platforms have to encourage their users to engage positively with each other

Never give a cyberbully what they want – which is a reaction. Follow these steps to ensure you stay in control of the situation, get the support you need to deal with problems effectively, and the confidence to move on

Reaching out privately to reassure someone can make all the difference, especially if they are struggling with a situation. Reporting will help the platform to identify the behavior and also alert the platform of a user that may need support. If you are not sure, simply point them to Cybersmile

Someone who is in distress may talk about wanting to hurt themselves or someone else, or use phrases such as, “I can’t deal with this” or “It’s too much, I can’t cope,” as a cry for help. These are all signs that a person is feeling overwhelmed by a situation and needs support

Make sure you contact the person privately, not publicly. Try and be sensitive and reassuring, as you don’t know how the person is actually feeling. Your intervention could make all the difference and could empower someone to seek the help they need

Nothing anyone says about you online, or offline affects your value as a human being!

Everyone who uses the internet has a responsibility to protect the freedoms that our connected world can offer. By recognizing the part that each of us play in the wellbeing of the internet, we can facilitate a more tolerant and inclusive digital community for everyone