ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Projects :: Safer Internet Centres ::Information campaign

The Internet is fun. Keep it fun, keep control! Block bullying online!

On 10 February 2009, Safer Internet Day, the European Commission launched an information campaign including a short video, empowering teenagers to keep control when online. The pan-European campaign encompasses all EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.

What is the main message of the video clip?

The video clip shows a young girl who is victim of cyberbullying, but fights back and reports the problem to her social networking site. Her appearance goes through different stages of transformation, reflecting the way that bullies are distorting her photo on a website. Finally, the girl takes control by pressing the “Report abuse” button available on the social networking site and everything comes back to normal.

“Block bullying online! Keep it fun, keep control” is the final message of the video. It shows young people that there are solutions to the problems they may face on the Internet. The video closes with the website and phone number where teenagers can find help and advice in their country.

Campaign dissemination

A 30 second video clip on cyber-bullying has been produced for the European Commission. It is available in all EU languages plus in Norwegian and Icelandic. The video was broadcast on public and private TV channels all over Europe throughout 2009 and kicked off on Safer Internet Day (10 February)

The clip was also shown during the Berlin International Film Festival on big screens in the centre of Berlin from 10 to 15 February.

A longer version of the video was also posted on the internet on sites popular with teenagers such as: Arto, Skyrock, Piczo, Habbo Hotel, Myspace UK, YouTube, Dailymotion, BeboIE.

Watch the “making of” of the “Block bullying online!” video

Advice for teenagers on how to stay online in all EU languages is available on www.keepcontrol.eu and also on the websites of INSAFE network awareness centres.

The impact assessment conducted by an independent contractor, Evaluation Partnership, shows that there were 202 TV channels in 22 European countries and 238 websites and social networking sites involved in the dissemination Campaign. This resulted in a total of 16,540 TV broadcasts in 22 European countries and 1,398,626 Internet viewings of the video clip.

The full impact assessment report is now available

Annexes of the impact assessment report

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is repeated verbal or psychological harassment carried out by an individual or group against others. It can take many forms: mockery, insults, threats, rumours, gossip, "happy slapping", disagreeable comments or slander. Interactive online services (e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging) and mobile phones have given bullies new opportunities and ways in which they can abuse their victims.

How widespread is the problem?

34.3% of Belgian teenagers have been bullied via internet or mobile phone, according to research results.
52% of Polish Internet users aged 12-17 have been exposed to abuse on the Web or via mobile phones. 47% of the child respondents have been called crude names while 21% have been humiliated or mocked according to the Nobody's Children Foundation and Gemius Agency in Poland.
In research conducted for the UK Department for Children, Schools and Families, 34% of 12-15 year olds reported having been cyberbullied.
In Ireland, a survey carried out by the National Centre for Technology in Education showed that threatening or aggressive text messages and posting photos or videos that were intended to embarrass teenagers among 14 to 18 years old are the most common form of cyberbullying.

Why is the European Commission dealing with cyberbullying?

The Commission thinks that European action is necessary because social networks connect people across borders, making it harder for local or even national measures to tackle this problem alone.

More specifically, cyberbullying is a new problem emerging rapidly in most EU countries. To tackle it in an efficient way, it is important to be aware of and share good strategies which are being developed in different European countries and also come up with common strategies, like the video clip produced for this year's Safer Internet campaign.

How does the Commission help teenagers stay safe online?

The Commission's Safer Internet Programme helps empower youngsters online by providing them with the information, skills and tools to deal with risks online. At a national level this is done with the help of the INSAFE network of awareness raising centres, and help lines.

In addition, the Commission has encouraged social networking companies to self-regulate in order to keep young people safe online. An agreement on child safety has already been signed by mobile operators in the EU in 2007.

At Safer Internet Day 2009, 17 major social networks active in Europe have signed the first European agreement of its kind to prove their commitment to the same goal.