We have teamed up with Instagram to launch a new campaign encouraging young people to #CreateAKinderEnvironment online to mark Anti-Bullying Week 2021. Styled as the ultimate recipe to #CreateAKinderEnvironment (C.A.K.E. for short), we have collaborated with Dr. Barbara Mariposa, a mental health and wellbeing expert, to educate teens on all the necessary ingredients to cook up and serve kindness online.
It is impossible to understate the power of showing support and standing as one with someone you can see is being bullied. By showing support, offered appropriately and with care, this can be the difference in helping the person stand firm and not get beaten down. Even the smallest act of kindness can make a world of difference. So don't stand by. Reach out and stand alongside.
Dr. Barbara Mariposa, Wellness & Equity Advisor, Cybersmile Advisory Panel
The 'recipe' offers advice from Cybersmile on how best to reach out and be an ally, as well as highlighting the safety tools available on Instagram to keep everyone protected while encouraging a positive online environment. It will be shared by inspiring creators including Dr. Alex George, Megan Jayne Crabbe, Stephanie Yeboah, and Nikki Lilly, with the purpose of encouraging young people to follow the advice and #CreateAKinderEnvironment online. Social media users will also be encouraged to share the cake emoji as a symbol of their support for a kinder online environment.
We want Instagram to remain a place where young people can go to connect with friends, be part of a community, and explore their interests. We're committed to helping young people take control of what they see and do online, and give parents and carers the tools to be part of these important conversations. We are proud to partner with our friends at Cybersmile to mark Anti-Bullying Week and Create A Kinder Environment for everyone. By standing together, we can help replace the unwanted interactions that can get people down, with simple acts of kindness that could lift people up instead.
Tara Hopkins, Instagram Director of Public Policy, Meta
The overarching campaign message is that by standing together and taking small actions, we all have the power to build a kinder environment on social media, replacing the unwanted interactions that can get people down with simple acts of kindness that could lift people up instead.
Through the C.A.K.E. campaign, we want to inspire everyone to stand together and take action against online bullying. Whether it's sending a simple DM to let someone being targeted know they're not alone or directing them to Cybersmile if they need further support, by working together we can make all of our feeds a friendlier place.
Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation
What to Do If You See Someone Being Bullied Online
- If you think someone is being bullied, reach out to them. Let them know they're not alone, and it's not their fault. Just knowing that someone cares enough to see if they're OK could save a life.
- Use words like "I'm here for you" or "we'll get through this together." Let them know it's not their fault in any way; it's the bully who's projecting through those behaviors.
- Point them to the Instagram Help Center for safety tips and tools to give them control over their experience, or steer them to Cybersmile for additional support.
An Overview of Instagram's Safety Measures
- Message controls: Limit who can send you Direct Messages and add you to group chats.
- Close friends: Share your Stories with only the people on that list.
- Restrict mode: Restrict specific accounts so comments from that person are only visible to them.
- Block: Stop accounts you don't want to interact with from contacting you.
- Comment controls: Take control of who can comment on your photos and videos.
- Report: Bullying is against our rules. Let Instagram know about an account, photo, video, comment, or message that is intended to bully.
The campaign aims to bring awareness to internet users about the importance of online safety and the features available to them via Instagram tools, including its Restrict mode and Block features.