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Cybersmile And Instagram Announce Anti-Bullying Week Campaign: Banter or Bullying?

Today sees the launch of our Anti-Bullying Week campaign with Instagram. As part of the campaign, we are publishing a new national report, Banter or Bullying? which offers valuable insights into the relationship between banter and bullying across the U.K. amongst young people. You can download the full Banter or Bullying? report by clicking on the image above. If you are affected by anything touched on within this article, follow the links to our various support services or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to start using Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant.

We are delighted to announce the launch of an exciting Anti-Bullying Week campaign alongside Instagram to explore and highlight attitudes towards banter and bullying online.

From meme accounts, to playground pranks, banter is a quintessential part of British culture. However, banter can also be used as an excuse for bullying, or accidentally go too far. That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with Instagram this important campaign!

As part of the campaign, we will be publishing brand new research and working alongside celebrities and influencers including Zoe Sugg, Chessie King and comedian Mo Gilligan to help people learn more about how individuals are affected by banter while reinforcing how being mindful of the fine line between banter and bullying is important – in order to protect this unique kind of humour that so many people feel so passionately about.

“We are proud to work alongside Instagram on such an important campaign. It is our hope that this campaign will encourage young people to talk more about the line that exists between banter and bullying, and be more mindful of when they are in danger of crossing it.”

Dan Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation

Today sees the launch of our national Banter or Bullying? report. The report offers valuable insights into the relationship between banter and bullying across the U.K. and encourages young people to be more aware, and talk more about the line between banter and bullying (download the full report here). Over 3000 respondents aged 13-18 participated in the study which focussed on areas such as where the line between banter and bullying exists, if people use banter as an excuse for bullying, the impact of banter on bystanders and many more.

“Instagram is proud to be working alongside The Cybersmile Foundation. Like Cybersmile, we share a belief that all forms of digital abuse, harassment and bullying are as unacceptable online as they are offline. Together we will be shining a light on an important and often overlooked issue: how banter can either be used as an excuse for bullying, or accidentally go too far and leave people upset.”

Kira Wong O’Connor, EMEA Policy Programmes Manager, Instagram

In addition to the launch of our Banter or Bullying? report, as part of the initiative throughout Anti-Bullying Week, Cybersmile will be launching a number of social media activities which include a special takeover of our Instagram account and the sharing of top tips for safe and positive social media use for users of all ages.

As part of the campaign, Cybersmile have created a series of educational infographics to help people block out negativity on Instagram.

Cybersmile previously teamed up with Instagram and Chessie King on a high profile body confidence campaign in 2018 which delivered an important message to millions of internet users and won multiple awards including a Gold Lion at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity.

Instagram is committed to leading the fight against online bullying and has introduced a number of features to give young people greater control over what they see and experience. ‘Comment Warning’ is an AI-powered feature which asks people to think twice about a post that may contain bullying before it’s shared. If the technology detects potential bullying in a caption, it will give people the option to edit or undo that post before it is uploaded.

Mo Gilligan In Exclusive Banter or Bullying? Campaign Q&A

Instagram’s Restrict tool empowers teens to quietly protect their account while still keeping an eye on a bully and anyone can report or block someone for bullying behaviour within the app, as well as creating bespoke comment filters to hide specific words or emojis that upset them.

If you are affected by any kind of online negativity, we can help you. Visit our Cyberbullying Help Center or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to open Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant. For further information about Cybersmile and the work we do, please explore the following suggestions:

What are your thoughts about the line between banter and bullying? Share your thoughts by contacting us or tweet us @CybersmileHQ.