Committed to fighting bullying, Portuguese universities team up to create TermsAgainstBulying.com, a digital platform that anonymously allows the victim report bullies' cell phone … read morenumber. Today we are more connected. Therefore, bullying has been occurring more often on social media. On most channels, it is possible to report unbecoming behaviors, with one exception: the most widely used messaging platform in the world, WhatsApp, due to its encryption. It is the only cyber space in which a bully can freely engage in offensive acts, as the app can do nothing to block or control its messages.
Agency: White Rabbit, Budapest
Cyberbullying is already considered one of the leading causes of depression, suicidal tendencies and life-long trauma among young people. In Portugal, the law considers bullying and cyberbullying a crime punishable by up to five years imprisonment when the offender is over 16 years old. However, even under this law, victims are discredited or afraid to report, and attackers remain unpunished and free to use their smartphones as a weapon to spread hatred.
In this yellow September, known internationally as the suicide awareness month, an initiative suggests a solution to end this "blind spot". The terms and conditions section in mobile phone company contracts contains specific clauses designed to provide protection against violence. Customers who have committed any kind of digital violence or have harmed others must have their cell phone number canceled.
Using a tool that recognizes mobile operators, termsagainstbullying.com receives complaints and sends them to the regulatory part of each European country. It will be responsible for ensuring that mobile providers comply with contractual clauses: contract cancellation of those who have committed digital violence.
The site also features all kinds of bullying to inform and teach about the types of digital violence that can be reported.
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