Who are we? The team behind "Be a friendly netizen" campaign.
We are ordinary students whose lives revolve around school, work, and play.
We are FLEX!
We are Media and Communications students in Singapore Polytechnic.
Why did we set up this blog?
We are youthful. We are FLEX, a Fun-Loving and Enthusiastic group of youths who aim to X out cyberbullying!
We want to make a difference in the cyberworld, no matter how small the difference may be.
Because we want to encourage youths to become friendly netizens.
We'll be focusing on 2 areas of cyberbullying - the blog and video streaming sites, which explains the existence of this blog.
And for this campaign, this blog is set up by youths, specially for youths!
Objectives
• To create awareness about the seriousness of cyberbullying
• To spread the information on the ways to respond to cyberbullying, consequences and the causes and effects of cyberbullying.
• To encourage the practice of netiquette.
What is this campaign all about?
This is a campaign tailor-made against cyberbullying, especially in blogs and streaming video websites (click ‘About Cyberbullying’ for more information on where cyberbullying can occur).
It is entitled ‘Be a Friendly Netizen’.
And we define a friendly netizen as someone who:
• Is sensitive towards others’ feelings
• Acts responsibly
• Is conscious of his/her online activities, and
• Avoids hostility.
As technology empowers us, and with ‘great power comes great responsibility’ (quote from our favourite hero: Spiderman), let us pay tribute to hi-tech by playing our part to contribute to a more conducive cyberworld, and this can be achieved by just being a friendly netizen, which is not difficult at all!
How can you support this campaign?
Simple! Just paste the e-badge code below into your blog or any website!
Drop us an
email to notify us when you've included the e-badge into your blog or website!
Are you a victim or bully of cyberbullying? The answer is: it does not matter here.
No matter who you are, what you do or what you have done, everyone is equal in the eyes of FLEX!, for we are citizens of the Internet.
Netizens is what we shall call ourselves.
Just as we remain loyal to our respective countries and respecting individuals’ cultures offline, we should also do the same online – show respect for other netizens’ pride and feelings, show that we can be responsible users of the Internet.
This is everyone’s home on second life. And ‘home’ is what we defined as a place of warmth, harmony, belonging and love.
Let's make the cyberworld a better place. Be a friendly netizen, keep cyberbullying out!
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying occurs when someone puts down victim through the use of info-communication technologies (ICT), thereby causing emotional distress to the victim.
ICT includes mobile phones and the Internet.
Cyberbullying covers a wide spectrum. Actions that constitute cyberbullying ranges from as minute as name-calling and playful teasing to more serious ones like sending threatening messages and uploading offensive videos e.g. physical bullying in schools online. All of which must have caused the victim emotional distress.
Cyberbullying is also a very relative issue. “What may hurt me may not hurt you,” explained it all.
How do you know if you’re cyberbullying someone?
• What you publish (content)
• Who you publish it to
• How you express it
Where can cyberbullying appear?
• Mobile phone - in SMSes
• Internet – Blog comments, social networking sites e.g. Facebook and Friendster, instant messaging (IM) e.g. MSN messenger, in online games, streaming video sites e.g. YouTube.
Effects of cyberbullying
Victims may experience the following:
• Relationship problems
• Loss of self-esteem
• Crying themselves to sleep
• Anxiety
• Loss of sleep or appetite
• Loneliness
• Depression
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Suicide
How to deal with cyberbullying?
Ever gotten upset over a nasty comment someone made about you online?
We understand. We’ve been there, experienced that, and overcame them.
It sure takes guts to stand firm and not be affected by others’ opinions about you especially when you know that what they have published are not true.
Sometimes, you don’t even know who your perpetrators are.
It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
You feel a sense of anguish, don’t you?
Always has the urge to take revenge by bullying them back the same way they did it to you? Forget it!
Being cool and calm is the best way to deal with cyberbullying.
Simply, choose to ignore it. Not responding to it makes you less of an easy target!
If it’s someone whom you thought was a friend but wrote those nasty comments about you online, either talk things out with him/her or find out why he/she did that.
If she intended to hurt you, then its time you make new and positive friends who can help you build up your self-esteem.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Get a sneak peek behind the scenes!
Labels: gallery
was a friendly netizen at 9:02 AM
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Sunday, July 27, 2008
Come down for some fun!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ!)
Getting to Singapore Polytechnic By Bus:
14, 74, 105, 106, 147, 166
Dover Road and Dover Avenue
14, 33, 74, 166, 196
Getting to Singapore Polytechnic By MRT:
Alight at Dover MRT Station
Click here to view map
Labels: event
was a friendly netizen at 7:58 PM
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Friday, July 25, 2008
QUESTION MARK #1
Besides the following facts and figures that showed the existence of cyberbullying. Tell us if you have come across cyberbullying of any forms or that has been done to anyone you know? We would like to hear from you.
QUESTION MARK is a column specially set up for the like-minded, strong opinionated and/or critical 'monster' that lives inside each and every one of us. For we believe that nobody is neutral on everything. It’s time to speak your mind.
Every week, a topic for debate and discussion or a question raised by anyone will be addressed in this column. So, join in the fun!
LOOK OUT for QUESTION MARK every Friday!
Got a burning question? Click on 'Post a comment' below this entry, leave a tag on our tagboard or email us at weareflex@hotmail.com
P.S: FLEX! reserves the right to remove any post that is deemed offensive or undesirable.
Labels: Question mark
was a friendly netizen at 4:52 PM
The topic of cyberbullying had been almost always garnered a great amount of attention since virtual networking had became an integral part of peoples' lives.
To me, it is difficult for the society to wholly prevent something so ambiguously defined from happening. My take on the situation is that more information and education could be channelled to the general public, for them to identify what is "flaming" and to potentially dissuade potential flamers from doing so. That said, sometimes it could be near to impossible to protect oneself from a system that almost is built entirely on anonymity, so certain caustic comments here and there is certainly unavoidable. Perhaps with good time the netizens in the local region could mature more in this sense as not to jump on every little sneer from anyone.
And I enjoyed this blog alot. Keep up the good work. ;)
Hi andr30407.
Yes, the Internet has become a very large part of most people's lives today. However, through our team's research, we have found out that there's little awareness on cyberbullying among the public, and this is so even for parents and educators. That's the purpose of our blog - to spread the words on this issue.
The Internet is a very big thing. It has no geographical boundary, and this makes it difficult to filter and control. However, we want people to know that anonymity does not exist in the cyberworld, because one's identity can be traced.
Thanks for sharing your views! On behalf of FLEX!, I thank you for the compliment. (:
Are there laws to deem cyberbullying illegal?
While many cases of cyberbullying are intentional on a personal basis, some cases of unintentional cyberbullying ("puts down victim through the use of info-communication technologies (ICT), thereby causing emotional distress to the victim") are prosecuted by the law due to inflammatory remarks to groups of people like on key personnel of authorities, or religious groups.
Anyway, does putting down those people considered as cyberbullying? Or does cyberbullying requires one to target 1 victim? Or is that even considered cyberbullying, because the initial intention is not to bully but rant?
And I think cyberbullying has to deal with lots of literature. It's just how you interpret things. Education has also taught us to always cross-reference; never believe in just 1 source. Yep, and it has lots to do with self-esteem too.
Hi ws.
While there isn't a specific law to deem cyberbullying illegal, there are laws, e.g. dafamation and sedition act, that one can be charged under. You may want to refer to the PDF file here for the Internet Code of Practice by MDA: http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.file/mobj/mobj.981.internet_code_of_practice.pdf
Considering that there isn't a specific Act that governs all types of cyberbullying, but that there are Acts that cover different areas of cyberbullying.
With regards to your concern about the cases of inflamatory remarks made about public figures, we have to understand that their image and reputation are at stake. These people have the resources to take the case(s) to court. Having said that, this blog is set up with youths in mind, who are more vulnerable to cyberbullying.
Have you heard or read the news about the conviction of the 3 racists bloggers few years back? As Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society, it is vital that our government stops anyone from breaking the harmony.
Yes, we agree that there're cyberbullying which are done intentionally and unintentionally. However, what may have started off as a simple entry of one's everyday life might become a platform to cause emotional distress to another. This becomes cyberbullying.
In the long run, education is the key to reduce cyberbullying.
This brings us to the goal of our campaign, which is to encourage youths to not only stop cyberbullying, but also to be friendly netizens who'll be conscious of what they're posting online.
We thank you for your comment. By the way, how did you come to know about our blog? (:
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Thursday, July 24, 2008
Singapore Youths and Cyberbullying
Prior to planning the campaign, FLEX! conducted a survey in May 2008 with 200 Singapore Polytechnic students on their views about cyberbullying. A series of questions comprising two categories, "cyberbullying on self" and "what they would do when someone they know is cyberbullied" were covered in the survey. Note: Respondents were given anonymity in this survey. Only age and gender are recorded. Below are the key findings.
First category: "If you are being cyber-bullied, what would you do?"
Second category: "If someone you know is being cyber bullied, what would you do?"
Labels: survey
was a friendly netizen at 1:10 PM
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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Welcome!
FLEX! welcomes all friendly netizens.
was a friendly netizen at 11:26 AM
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Useful Links
CABCY - Coalition Against Bullying for Children and Youth
Cyberbullying.org
McAfee - Cyberbullying Conference
Megan Pledge
Netbullies by Parry Aftab
Pandora's Blog - Stopping Online Fight Videos
what gives!?
WiredSafety - The world's largest Internet safety and help group
FLEX!'s Technorati Profile
Our History
July 2008
August 2008
Join our discussions in the tagboard below or simply post a comment at the end of the post.
You can also tag us your enquires, or email us at weareflex@hotmail.com
[layout] Lynette
[images] Dawn|Lynette
[image host] Photobucket|Slide.com
[fonts] DaFont
[software] Adobe Photoshop CS2
[team behind the campaign] FLEX!
[venue] Singapore Polytechnic
[support] CABCY - Coalition Against Bullying for Children and Youth
[co-sponsor] 77th Street
[printer] Ling Image
[advisors] SP DMC lecturers
[school] CASS - School of Communications, Arts and Social Sciences
[course] DMC - Diploma in Media and Communications