Just one day before participating in Spirit Day, Facebook launched a new bullying prevention resource page and a new video for Bullying Prevention Month. The new resource is located within the Facebook Safety Center.
Spirit Day, held this year on October 19, is an annual day during which participants go purple -- both online and offline -- to support LGBT youth and stand against bullying. Facebook kicked off Spirit Day by turning its Facebook Diversity page profile photo purple and posting this status:
Spirit Day participants turning their Facebook profile photos purple and wear purple to school or work on Friday, October 19.
As announced earlier, Facebook will be supporting Spirit Day by turning select national pages purple, including Facebook's StopBullyingSpeakUp, Diversity and Safety pages, as well as encouraging employees at offices around the world to wear purple on October 19. Facebook has participated in Spirit Day since 2010, when an event page was created to promote the first Spirit Day, attracting hundreds of thousands of RSVPs. GLAAD worked with Facebook to remove hateful comments and images posted to the event page. In 2012, Facebook became the first social media company to be receive a GLAAD Media Award.
The resource launched today is the latest way in which Facebook has demonstrated its strong commitment to supporting its LGBT users and preventing bullying. In June Facebook added same-sex icons for married couples.
The page being launched today builds on our commitment to keep people safe online by offering new and existing resources in one convenient location. A few new features include:
Social Resolution – New Experience and New Video – Facebook launched social resolution in March 2011 to enable people to report bullying and harassment to trusted friends and others in the community, on and off of Facebook. Since then we have been collaborating with academics and researchers in compassion and conflict resolution to improve our social resolution product.
We Are All Daniel Cui Video– We are featuring the powerful story of how a high school used Facebook to stand behind a classmate who was being bullied. We think this is one of many great case studies that demonstrate how to handle a potential bullying situation.
PACER Center’s School Event Guide –This month we partnered with the PACER Center to create a guide for students and educators to host anti-bullying event at their schools.
Read more at http://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-safety/bullying-prevention-month/479613505392770
During Bullying Prevention Month and with Spirit Day this Friday, these new resources come at an important time.
"When young people find a sea of purple profile photos and supportive voices on their favorite websites and apps, it sends a powerful message that it's okay to be who you are," said GLAAD president Herndon Graddick. "Tech giants like Facebook and Yahoo! are leading the way in taking steps to address bullying and bringing Spirit Day's message to young people year round."
Check out Facebook's new resource now!
Show your support for Spirit Day on Facebook by turning your profile photo purple and sharing a Spirit Day graphic.
For more information on Spirit Day, see www.glaad.org/spiritday.
