Pink Shirt Day and Cyber Bullying

Pink Shirt Day is February 26, 2020.

Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. Each year, on Pink Shirt Day, people are encouraged to wear something pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere. 

Bullying is an age-old problem for students and society in general, but the anonymity of Internet communications is bringing the harmful practice of bullying online, as some are using these communication tools to intimidate and threaten others. Because of this, many Internet Service Providers and social media sites are working to put a stop to this destructive behaviour. 

Cyber bullying occurs when a person is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another person using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. Cyber bullying most often involves minors but can occur between adults or adults and minors.

RRU’s Security Awareness program and Cyber Security Ambassadors recognise that cyber bullying is a concern not only for students but for those of our faculty and staff who are parents.  In recognition of Pink Shirt Day we’d like to provide some resources that will help you better understand cyber bullying, learn how to talk to your young people about cyber bullying and learn where you can get help if you or someone you know is being targeted by a cyber bully.

Links

Learn about Pink Shirt Day and how it all started.  Yes, it's a Canadian invention!  Here's the link: https://www.pinkshirtday.ca 

A similar site Pink T-Shirt Day has more related resources:  http://www.pinktshirtday.ca/ 

CBC has a great kid-friendly site set up for Pink Shirt Day.  Check it out here: https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/what-is-pink-shirt-day

Microsoft has an awesome site for kids that looks at many aspects of cyber bullying.  They've got a ton of resources!  Here's the link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/digital-skills/online-safety?activetab=protect-whats-important%3aprimaryr3 

The Edmonton Police Service has an excellent page on the topic of cyber bullying:  http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/CommunityPolicing/FamilyProtection/ChildProtection/BullyingAndCyberbullying.aspx  

ProtectKidsOnline.ca is designed to assist parents/guardians in protecting their children on the Internet: https://protectkidsonline.ca/app/en/ 

NeedHelpNow.ca helps teens stop the spread of sexual pictures or videos and provides support along the way: https://needhelpnow.ca/app/en/ 

Downloads

Video - Top Three Online Threats