Online safety plan teams with Facebook
A CENTRAL Otagoled online safety programme is set to be introduced nationally following a launch in Wellington this week.
The ‘‘Online Advocates’’ partnership is a collaboration between Central Otago anticyber bullying group Sticks ’n Stones (SNS) and Facebook.
It will train 500 online advocates from more than 40 schools nationwide to support more than 15,000 young Kiwis in metropolitan, regional and remote communities.
The framework for the programme was designed by Central Otago SNS members, who will codesign the full programme in partnership with other young people from around New Zealand.
SNS members will then help train the online advocates, and act as mentors throughout the programme.
The programme will combine inperson workshops with online modules and is designed for 1418 year olds. The online advocates will go on to provide peertopeer support and lead online safety initiatives.
A statement from Facebook called it a ‘‘landmark partnership’’ that brought ‘‘young Kiwis together to explore online safety issues in the real world in a safe, supportive environment’’.
Facebook director and head of global safety policy Antigone Davis said trained online advocates would be offered to every high school in New Zealand.
SNS founder Karla Sanders said the Facebook collaboration would enable SNS to ‘‘upscale our work’’ and empower hundreds of online advocates to support thousands of young people ‘‘to stand up to all forms of bullying and protect their friends’’.
Pupils from Wellington high schools attended Tuesday’s ‘‘Online Advocates’’ launch and would be some of the first to be trained, but a mix of pupils from all parts of New Zealand, including Otago, was being sought, Mrs Sanders said.
She particularly encouraged pupils who ‘‘may not see themselves as leaders’’ to get involved.