Redblacks’ Spencer part of team hoping to help knock out cyberbullying

It wasn’t like Diontae Spencer got picked on; he wasn’t a victim of bullying when he was a kid.

But when the Ottawa Redblacks receiver was asked before the season if he’d be interested in participating in a Telus-Canadian Football League promotion to combat cyberbullying, he was on board.

“It was something I wanted to do; when they brought the idea to me, I was all-in,” Spencer said.

“It’s something we have to pay attention to. Social media and the communication with computers and cellphones is so big. That’s where the kids are.

“There are so many things that are being said that are negative that are affecting people.

“I’m hoping that being a role model and with attention being paid to it can help someone that’s going through cyberbullying.”

In Canada, more than one million Canadian kids are cyberbullied each month — an eye-popping and disturbing statistic. Bullies hide behind social media. No single person can wipe out the problem, and the Telus-CFL initiative is a team effort.

“Some people are different; they stand out and they get picked on,” Spencer said.

“Who’s going to stand up for them? Who’s going to stand up and say something? The statistics of cyberbullying, some people don’t know how bad it is. It’s something we need to talk about.

“In elementary school, you see kids get bullied, you see your friends bullying people. When you’re at that age, you don’t really say anything. You think it’s just fun, you think it’s cool. But you have to pay attention to stuff like that. Kids are taking their own lives.”

Spencer said projecting positivity among the kids is something he always strives to do.

“I always try to stay positive (when I talk to kids),” he said.

“Treat people the way you want to be treated, that’s something that’s always stuck with me.”