Common Sense Media Launches National Campaign to Help Kids “Stand up, Not Stand By” to Cyberbullying

Long-term, interactive campaign encourages parents, teachers to “make a promise” to start talking about cyberbullying and respectful digital behavior

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Common Sense Media, the national nonprofit dedicated to helping kids thrive in a digital world, is tackling the issue of cyberbullying with a new parent and teacher education campaign. “Stand up, Don’t Stand By” targets parents and educators with the tools and information they need to help kids understand the role they play in cyberbullying and develop the skills and confidence to stop it.

“Research shows that as many as one third of kids are cyberbullied. We think there is an opportunity to start an important conversation with the other two-thirds — the ones who are not targets,” said Jim Steyer, CEO and founder, Common Sense Media. “This campaign is designed to celebrate kids who stand up and step in when they see bullying happening – and encourage parents to help all kids to follow their lead. The best way to combat cyberbullying is to practice safe, smart, and respectful digital behavior every day. It’s our hope that this campaign will help millions of parents and teachers start the conversation about cyberbullying and ethical behavior with their kids and students, and create a culture of respect, positivity, and collaboration online.”

“Stand up, Don’t Stand By” features articles, videos, and interactive components for parents and educators to help them start a critical conversation with their kids: When kids see bullying happening, how can they learn to stand up to it?

  • Age-by-age guidance on cyberbullying, from preschool through high school
  • An interactive “promise” for parents
  • Comprehensive free educator toolkit for in-classroom instruction
  • Stories from kids, parents, and teachers about standing up in their communities

The campaign will continue throughout the fall with local and national events in conjunction with the campaign’s multiple partners to celebrate digital citizenship. Partners for “Stand up, Don’t Stand By” include:

  • Comcast
  • Time Warner Cable
  • Yahoo! Safely
  • The MacArthur Foundation
  • The McCormick Foundation
  • iVillage
  • The Huffington Post
  • Verizon Foundation
  • AOL
  • Nickelodeon’s The Big Help
  • MTV
  • California State Parent Teacher Association
  • Edutopia

To learn more about the “Stand up, Don’t Stand By” national campaign, visit www.commonsense.org/cyberbullying. For the educator toolkit, visit www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/cyberbullying-toolkit.

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. For more information, go to: www.commonsense.org.

Contacts

Common Sense Media
Marisa Connolly, 415-553-6703
mconnolly@commonsense.org

Release Summary

Common Sense Media is tackling the issue of cyberbullying with a new education campaign providing parents and teachers with tools and information to help kids stand up to cyberbullying.

Contacts

Common Sense Media
Marisa Connolly, 415-553-6703
mconnolly@commonsense.org