UNICEF Launches #ReplyForAll Campaign To Engage Adolescents In Ending Violence Online

What would you tell a friend who is being pressured to do something they might regret? Share your advice.

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Cover ImageCover image via YouTube / UNICEF
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In this modern age, almost everyone of us is online every single day. Whether we are online for work, for socializing, for research, for shopping — we always have a reason for surfing the internet.

But, here's the catch…

Did you know that eight out of ten 18-year-olds believe that young people are in danger of being taken advantage of online?

This study was released yesterday by the United Nations Children's Fund ([UNICEF] (http://www.unicef.org)) in its report, "[Perils and Possibilities: Growing up online] (http://www.unicef.org/endviolence/endviolenceonline/files/UNICEF_Growing-up-online.pdf)", based on an international poll of more than 10,000 18-year-olds from 25 countries, according to [UN News Centre] (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54155#.V1esd1caqT8).

Image via UNICEF

"The Internet and mobile phones have revolutionized young people's access to information, but the poll findings show just how real the risk of online abuse is for girls and boys. Globally, **ONE IN THREE INTERNET USERS IS A CHILD**. Today's findings provide important insights from young people themselves," said [Cornelius Williams] (http://www.unicef.org/media/media_90267.html), UNICEF's Associate Director of Child Protection, in the report.

To engage children and adolescents in ending violence online, UNICEF launched the [#ReplyForAll] (http://replyforall.tumblr.com) campaign

Image via UNICEF

Image via UNICEF

According to Williams, UNICEF aims to amplify adolescents' voices to help address all types of online violence and make sure that children can take full advantage of the benefits the internet and mobile phones offer.

[**#ReplyForAll**] (http://replyforall.tumblr.com) is part of UNICEF's global [**#ENDViolence**] (http://www.unicef.org/endviolence/) initiative which aims to protect children from abuse, exploitation and violence.

#ENDViolence by following #ReplyForAll's SAFETY TIPS:

1. **Don't keep your fears to yourself.** If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Visit Child Helpline International to find out the names and details of organizations in your country who can help you. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously.

2. **Respect what other people are saying on social media**, even if you do not agree with them.

3. **You have the right to privacy** – and so do others. It is not okay to log into other people's accounts or to use their phones or profiles without their permission.

4. **Don't spread rumors or post/share hurtful or embarrassing stories or photos.** What may seem like a harmless joke to one person can be deeply hurtful to others. We all have the right to dignity and to be treated with respect.

5. **Think twice before you click 'send'** – especially if you're upset or angry. Once you share a photo or a video it's hard to control what happens to it and who sees it. Taking it down is nearly impossible.

6. **If you've seen something on social media that made you upset or hurt you, you can report it.** On many social media platforms you can report a specific post or photo if it is against the community standards of the social media platform. Most social media platforms let you "block" a person so that you don't see their content and they cannot contact you or send you messages. You can learn more by following the links at the end of this page.

7. **You can change the privacy settings on your social media platforms** to help you control who sees your information, photos and videos. Think carefully and what you share with whom. It may seem obvious but don't share personal information like your address, phone number or bank details. If your privacy settings are not secure anyone can see this information.

8. **Making new friends is great but before you accept a person you should have a look at their profile – try to see who they are.** Do you have friends in common? Are you from the same town? Don't feel pressured to accept random friend requests. Check your privacy settings so that this person does not see any information that you don't want them to see. Remember that sometimes people pretend to be someone they are not and it's hard to know if they are telling the truth about who they are.

9. **Be careful about any job offers that you receive online.** Did you apply for a job or contact anyone for a job? If you did not this could be a scam and you need to be very careful. Do some research about the company or business. Be careful when going to meet some for the first time if you have only met them on the internet. We strongly recommend that you don't go alone. Instead, ask an adult you know well and trust to come with you and arrange to meet in a public place.

10. **If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts.** Talk to someone you trust and get their advice on what to do. Visit [Child Helpline International] (http://www.childhelplineinternational.org) to find out the names and details of organizations in your country who can help you. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously.

Image via UNICEF

Watch how friendship overcame every teen's nightmare:

You, too, can stop online violence.
GET INVOLVED!

Join these initiatives with your friends. Together you can make a difference:

Sign up and recruit as many of your friends as you can. Receive updates and ways you can get involved. Visit [#ENDViolence] (http://www.unicef.org/endviolence/involved.html) for more information.

Take a stand against online violence and exploitation. Share these stories. Submit your own by visiting [#ReplyForAll] (http://replyforall.tumblr.com/submit).

Lastly, read these links to know how you can report abusive behavior based on the social media platform you're using:

[Facebook] (https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557)
[Instagram] (https://help.instagram.com/165828726894770/)
[Kik] (https://kikinteractive.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/217680878-I-m-being-harassed-on-Kik-What-can-I-do-)
[Snapchat] (https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/co/other-abuse)
[Twitter] (https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998)
[YoutTube] (https://www.youtube.com/yt/policyandsafety/reporting.html)
[WeChat] (http://admin.wechat.com/mp/readtemplate?t=wxm-appmsg-inform&__biz=)
[WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/21197244)
[Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/abuse)
[YikYak] (https://www.yikyak.com/support/faqs/sections/201022049/205384825)

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