I Am A Witness is a digital-focused campaign developed with a number of partners. It includes a new eye emoji designed to be used on social media to help teens take a stand against bullying and show support for someone being bullied. The emoji is available with the latest Apple iOS 9.1 and in the I Am A Witness app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Swearer was one of several researchers who consulted on the project. This groundbreaking effort was led by the AdCouncil and an unprecedented coalition of media, corporate and non-profit partners.
The new campaign aims to activate the silent majority of kids who witness bullying each day, and empower them to use the new eye emoji and additional creative assets to speak up, be a friend and reject bullying.
To learn more about the campaign, visit http://iwitnessbullying.org/, join the new social media communities on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (search ‘I See Bullying’), and follow the hashtag #IAmAWitness.
Swearer was also quoted Oct. 21 in an article in “The New Yorker” (http://go.unl.edu/8ki0) about cyberbullying. The article describes how the Internet has created another platform for teen and adult bulliers to bully, often joining with others. Swearer is quoted on how bulliers typically feel justified in their behaviors and sometimes don’t realize that their actions are bullying.
The Internet, according to the article, has made bullying harder for victims to get away from because it pervades their 24/7 network.
Earlier this month a new bullying program (http://project-hear.us/) was announced that Swearer also helped develop.