A hard-hitting film showing a teenage victim of cyber-bullying sliding slowly towards suicide has been unveiled this week.
The film has been created by anti-cyber-bullying charity The Cybersmile Foundation to emphasise the importance of not retaliating to online “trolls”.
Trolls are people who deliberately try to upset others online by posting inflammatory, insulting or abusive messages.
In the film, called #DONTRETALIATE, a young girl who is receiving abusive messages and texts is shown being followed around by a noose – symbolising her suicidal thoughts.
Government figures released earlier this year and previously quoted by the NSPCC show that 38 per cent of young people in the UK have been affected by cyber-bullying.
Cybersmile Foundation founder, Scott Freeman, said: “Do not retaliate is the single most important piece of advice that we can give to a potential victim of cyber-bullying. If followed, the advice helps to reduce anxieties and allows for clearer thinking at a time when somebody is making a very real, life or death decision.”
The film has been directed by Ed Morris and produced by Rattling Stick. It can be viewed online at www.cybersmile.org/news/dontretaliate-video