NetSafe Sets up Cyber Bullying Task Force

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NetSafe Sets up Cyber Bullying Task Force

Key Partners and Stakeholders Including Vodafone, NZ Police, Telecom, Join Forces To Provide Solution to Cyber Bullies

Auckland, 15 April 2011 – Leading Cybersafety organisation, NetSafe today announced that it has established a Cyber Bulling Task Force with the support of partners including the Ministry of Education and InternetNZ and a number of key stakeholders.

Recently there has been a number of high profile bullying incidents. NetSafe is aware of the impact of technology on bullying and has organised a forum for a range of key community groups, Government Agencies, ICT Service Providers, and education sector representatives.

“Technology is a fundamental part of society but has also brought a new level of complexity to those people trying to combat bullying. The Task Force is an important and timely chance to bring together relevant stakeholders to look at ways to support those people,” says NetSafe Executive Director, Martin Cocker.

The Task Force has three key aims-

• Developing a co-ordinated multi-stakeholder approach that will help schools and young people cope with and respond to bullying;
• Developing a response that will provide young people, parents, teachers and the community with the confidence to continue using technology productively;
• Creating an appropriate solution that the whole community can support to reduce the number of bullying incidents.

The Task Force forum discussed the barriers faced when trying to solve bullying as well as why bullying has been ineffectively managed in the past. The Task Force shared tips and pointers about their experiences with bullying and agreed to work collectively with NetSafe to deal with the issue of bullying in New Zealand.

“Bullying is a whole community problem so we can’t leave it for just one group to deal with,” says Martin, “the Task Force is a way for schools, community groups, action groups, police and the government to work together to really make a difference.”

Cocker also adds that the Cyber Bullying Task Force will call on every New Zealand community to do their part to fight cyber bullying before the issue becomes serious.

“NetSafe and the people and organisations that comprise or support Cyber Bullying Task Force hope that the three key platforms will become supported as a benchmark or national manifesto throughout the country to help protect the youth of New Zealand.”
More information about cyber bullying and the initiatives discussed at Cyber Bullying Task Force can be found at www.netsafe.co.nz

ENDS

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