Echo Network Africa Launches Campaign Against Cyber Bullies

Echo Network Africa (ENA) on Tuesday convened a Pre-International Women’s Day event that
discussed the theme “Digital: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.

The event was aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the
Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education, in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.

ENA also launched a campaign dubbed STOP Cyber bullies Now to end cyberbullying.

Experiences on cyber and social media bullying meted out to women and girls will be shared
together laws/policies for making technology work for women.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include.

Spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media, sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms and impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts.

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.

Speakers at the event who included, but not limited to, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and ENA GCEO Dr Jennifer Riria said it was about time the trend of cyber bulling stopped especially to women internent users.

Waiguru who also doubles up as the Council of Governers Chair officially launched ENA’s #stopcyberbulliesnow Campaign #stopcyberbulliesnow .

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