Global telecommunications company Vodafone has launched an ‘Anti-Bullying Emoji Keyboard App’ in support of Safer Internet Day, which took place on 9 February 2016.
The app is the latest development in the company’s #BeStrong campaign launched in late 2015 including a series of other anti-bullying initiatives. A spokesperson from Vodafone said:
“We’re always looking for ways to help young people be confidently connected in the digital world and we’re proud to support Safer Internet Day (9 February 2016) once again this year.
“We hope our emoji keyboard app will help young people all over the world to stand up to cyberbullies and #BeStrong online.”
Cyberbullying research (By Vodafone)
The scale and impact of cyberbullying on young people must not be underestimated. A new global survey by Vodafone and YouGov of 5,000 teenagers across 11 countries reveals that around one in five teenagers have been cyberbullied and more than half say they fear cyberbullying more than face-to-face bullying. 43% of teens think cyberbullying is a bigger problem than drug abuse and 41% commented that cyberbullying has made them feel depressed or helpless.
Many young people find it hard to talk about cyberbullying with their parents or guardians and aren’t sure how to support friends who are affected by it. 43% said they would find it hard to support a friend who had been bullied on social media as they ‘could not find the right words’.
In response to the survey results, Vodafone created a suite of #BeStrong ‘support emojis’ to help young people convey compassion and support to friends who are being bullied online.
The idea
The idea for a ‘support emoji’ was first brought to Vodafone by anti-bullying ambassador Monica Lewinsky, who has been a consultant on the initiative, working alongside semioticians, anti-bullying organisations including The Diana Award and ENABLE and Berkeley University Professor Dacher Keltner, the psychologist who advised on the creation of the characters for Pixar film Inside Out. The final emojis were chosen by the teens surveyed.
Vodafone’s #BeStrong Emoji Keyboard App was made available from February 9 2016 for free download on the iTunes App Store and is coming soon on Google Play.
For each view, like and direct share of Vodafone’s #BeStrong emoji messages and supporting videos through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube until 20 February 2016, the Vodafone Foundation will donate £1 up to a maximum of £100,000 to selected anti-bullying charities, including The Diana Award.
This article was sourced directly from the Vodafone website, at: http://www.vodafone.com/content/parents/expert-views/be_strong_emojis.html