On Stop Cyberbullying Day 2017, Telenor Group and Telenor Pakistan are launching the global \u2018Be a Cyberhero\u2019 digital and social media campaign. The goal is to support Telenor\u2019s 2020 goal to educate four million children in online safety practices across its 13 international markets.<\/p>\n
With half a billion children in Asia projected to have Internet access by 2020, Telenor first supported Stop Cyberbullying Day in 2016 and through multiple online safety initiatives throughout the year. The effort gathered 259 million impressions[1]<\/a> of their #useheart hashtag to promote awareness of online safety and cyberbullying.\u00a0 In 2017, the company hopes to build on this engagement, d\u00e9buting the custom-made \u2018Be a Cyberhero\u2019 profile picture filter for social media, cyberbullying tips graphics and multimedia, as well as other awareness-building activities on Telenor Pakistan and Telenor Group Facebook and Twitter accounts.<\/p>\n Telenor Pakistan: Making internet safer for children <\/strong><\/p>\n Supporting the global efforts and pursuing its own goals, Telenor Pakistan has been an active ICT player in the fight against cyberbullying. The company has raised awareness amongst thousands of Pakistani children about safe and constructive use of internet through a number of ways that include the \u2018Safe Internet\u2019 school outreach program, a multilingual \u2018Safe Internet Guide\u2019 for parents, and internet safety themed iChamp program. Under these initiatives over 320,000 students were trained on how to be safe on internet and counter cyberbullying.<\/p>\n Tens of thousands of Telenor\u2019s global employees are also playing a role, and will join the online movement by changing their profile pictures to share positive messages against cyberbullying.<\/p>\n \u201cCyberbullying has emerged as a grave threat to the mental and physical wellbeing of social media users, especially children who are more vulnerable in the digital space,\u201d said Syed Faraz Shahid, Director Sustainability, Telenor Pakistan<\/strong>. \u201cTelenor Pakistan has successfully taken forward the Group\u2019s initiatives on promoting safety in online space and curbing digital bullying through programs like Safe Internet school outreach and iChamp. We at Telenor Pakistan are excited to be committing to the Group\u2019s goal of educating four million children in online safety practices by 2020 as it will also expedite our own efforts to develop and promote a safe and productive digital space for the Pakistani youth. We are positive that we will emerge as the \u2018Cyberhero\u2019 that the campaign aims to produce.\u201d<\/p>\n New studies: Cyberbullying on the rise <\/strong> Take part in the campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.telenor.com\/sustainability\/responsible-business\/safe-services\/besmartuseheart\/<\/a><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Figure extracted from Meltwater, Telenor Group Social Media Listening tool, 28 Sep \u2013 03 Oct 2016<\/p>\n
\nThe 2017 initiative is run under the \u2019Be Smart, Use Heart\u2019 Telenor global programme launched in 2016, which builds on the local success of several country programmes, such as Bruk Hue in Norway. The platform provides children and parents with information and tools on how to cope with digital bullying, staying safe online and keeping mobile devices secure. This increased focus on cyberbullying has been prompted by new studies indicating that cyberbullying is increasing, and evidence of the link that those bullied in-person, can also be targeted online.\u00a0 Markedly, 64% of the students who experienced cyberbullying specified that it affected their ability to learn and feel safe at school[2]<\/a>. Additionally, 83% of the students who had been cyberbullied in the last 30 days had also been bullied at school recently[3]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n