BBC Go Bullyproof For Anti Bullying Week
Nov 13th, 2009 | By Amanda Johnson | Isle of Wight News From The Island Pulse
A National Anti-Bullying Week initiative with the theme Cyber Bullying – Stay Safe in Cyber Space is about to launch. As part of Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s six-week anti-bullying season ‘Bullyproof’ , Bebo, Facebook, Habbo , MSN, MySpace and YouTube are joining forces for the first time to try and tackle the increasingly serious issue of online bullying by putting in special measures and advice on their sites.
BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1Xtra have teamed up with the major social networking sites to put online bullying firmly under the spotlight and help young people make themselves Bullyproof . From Sunday 15th November the campaign launches with Aled Haydn-Jones kicking off a week of special content across Radio 1 and 1Xtra (see scheduled content below*).
Research with 11 to 19 year olds suggests that one in five young people (20%) had experienced bullying or threats via email, internet chatroom or text message (NSPCC). The BBC Bullyproof campaign covers all aspects of bullying including confidence, being different and advice on how to cope with bullying.
A special BBC website has also been created to support the campaign www.bbc.co.uk/bullyproof will give general expert advice on handling bullying and helps direct people to the social networking sites where audiences can find facts and advice on how to safeguard themselves on the sites, ranging from simple guides for managing security settings to blocking users. There’s also a video featuring confidence tips and advice from celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, The Saturdays and Alesha Dixon.
Ben Cooper, Deputy Controller, Radio 1 & 1Xtra, says:
“Online bullying has repeatedly hit the headlines this year and is a serious problem for many of our listeners.
“Radio 1 and 1Xtra continually strive to raise awareness of issues that affect young people and we felt the issue of online bullying needed to be tackled.”
Ben Chapman, Interactive Editor, Radio 1 and 1Xtra, adds:
“This is a really positive step forward for all those responsible for young people online.
“We have the major social networks onboard to help raise awareness of what people can do to protect themselves from cyber-bullying.
“It is great that they have all come together and agreed to work with Radio 1 and 1Xtra on what is a really important campaign.”
Aled Haydn-Jones, who presents The Surgery on Radio 1, says:
“Bullying is still a really big issue for many people, young and old on a daily basis.
“A lot of the things that people can do to protect themselves online are actually really simple but people are still unaware of what they can do.
“I think this is a really great thing that the social networks are joining with us to try and show people.
*Programming on BBC Radio 1
On Sunday 15th November at 10.00pm Aled Haydn-Jones will present a two-hour open Surgery dealing with all problems, including bullying. He will be joined by The Surgery regular Dr Mel who will be on hand to offer advice throughout the show and The Surgery team will take calls from listeners about their experiences of bullying.
Across the week on Radio 1 and 1Xtra celebrity advice about bullying from stars such as Cheryl Cole, Fearne Cotton, JLS, Natalie Cassidy, Mr Hudson, Pixie Lott, Ricky Whittle, Rio Ferdinand and The Saturdays will be played out on both stations.
On Thursday 19 November there will be a special moment in Scott Mills’ show (4.00-7.00pm) on Radio 1 and in Tim Westwood’s show (4.00-7.00pm) on 1Xtra. What this moment is, is being kept under wraps until the day!
The week culminates in a Surgery Special hosted by Radio 1’s Aled Haydn-Jones and 1Xtra’s Max on Sunday 22 November at 10.00pm. This goes out simultaneously on both stations and will focus on the Bullyproof campaign.
*Programming on BBC 1Xtra
Across the week the 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Trevor Nelson and Gemma will have daily confidence tips from the Surgery’s confidence coach.
On Wednesday 18 November Max has a special documentary on Bullying in the workplace (1.00-4.00pm).
On Thursday 19 November there will be a special moment in Scott Mills’ show (4.00-7.00pm) on Radio 1 and on Tim Westwood’s show (4.00-7.00pm) on 1Xtra. What this moment is, is being kept under wraps until the day!
On Friday 20 November Rampage are set to play a special feel good mix between 10.00am and 1.00pm.
The week culminates in a Surgery Special hosted by Radio 1’s Aled Haydn-Jones and 1Xtra’s Max on Sunday 22 November at 10.00pm. This will go out simultaneously on both stations and will focus on the Bullyproof campaign.
Audience and online communities can show their support for the Bullyproof campaign and help spread the word across social networks by displaying the specially-created Bullyproof emblem.
Social networks additional information:
Bebo www.bebo.com
During Anti-Bullying week Bebo users will be encouraged to befriend the Bullyproof profile to get tips on how to help keep Bebo an environment where people can connect and share safely.
Facebook www.facebook.com
During Anti-Bullying week Facebook users will be encouraged to join the Bullyproof fan page to get tips on how to help keep Facebook an environment where people can connect and share safely. To show support Facebook has worked with the partners to create a Bullyproof badge that users can download to their profile and an application to spread Bullyproof video.
Habbo www.habbo.co.uk
Bullyproof will feature on Habbo Hotel, a virtual world for teens. Radio 1 celebrities will visit www.habbo.co.uk and host live Bullyproof chats and activities. Aled Haydn-Jones, Max from 1Xtra, and bullying adviser Emily Lowe will be in the Habbo Hotel on Sunday 22nd November between 9.00 and 10.45pm. Habbo Hotel will also create a Bullyproof community and will publish updated guidelines for online safety on Habbo.
MySpace www.myspace.com
MySpace will be supporting the BullyProof campaign through its largest UK community, MySpace Today. A comprehensive display, editorial and social media campaign will drive users to an active central hub for discussion, blogs, information and content features.
Windows Live www.home.live.com
Windows Live will be promoting the Radio 1 Bullyproof campaign on its channel via MSN.co.uk to raise awareness of anti-bullying week. In addition, Windows Live will also be teaming up with Radio 1 to provide practical tips for beating bullying online.
YouTube www.youtube.com
YouTube will be promoting the Radio 1 Bullyproof campaign on the YouTube homepage as part of a package of videos raising awareness of anti-bullying week. In addition, some of YouTube’s most popular UK users are teaming up with Radio 1 to provide practical tips for beating bullying online.
BBC Go Bullyproof For Anti Bullying Week
Me and my friends was bullied online and we didn’t have a social network profile.
The gang used Flickr to pull me and my mates to shreds just so they could look big and good.
Hey look at us we can take them down and have the best of everything.
Eggs on their face now we ignored them and truth is they couldent trust each other and splintered across the island See things built on lies always ends up bad.
Myspace’s Bullyproof campaign.
As someone who was bullied extensively at school, I find the campaign both offensive and short-sighted. The video on Myspace’s home page tells me only the things that everybody told me when I was at school, the same “ignore them” stuff that I got from every teacher.
It is giving that advice, rather than taking action, that allowed the bullying to continue. Worse, if bullying doesn’t stop when you ignore them, the logical conclusion for someone with low self-esteem and a bullying problem is that you’re not ignoring them well enough. Couple this with the other advice given in their video; “if you are being bullied, it’s because you are not confident enough” and… you’re supporting a campaign that actively harms children.
I know because I currently suffer from severe anxiety issues, depression and anorexia nervosa that have forced me to claim Incapacity Benefit – talking on phones or dealing with minor interpersonal conflict is terrifying for me because I have been taught to fear interaction with others and taught that there is nothing I can do to stop the conflict, because I AM AT FAULT.
I wrote this missive to Myspace as well. They apparently didn’t read it. In fact, I left this and another comment on their page explaining my serious misgivings about their methods, but recieved no reply and my comment was never displayed. However, they did consider it acceptable to display comments comparing bullies to the mentally handicapped, which I thought was wildly offensive.