{"id":1962,"date":"2021-08-03T15:44:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T19:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedwayhn.on.ca\/?p=1962"},"modified":"2021-08-04T15:03:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T19:03:50","slug":"united-way-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedwayhn.on.ca\/united-way-takes-a-stand-against-cyberbullying\/","title":{"rendered":"United Way Takes a Stand Against Cyberbullying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk Takes a Stand Against Cyberbullying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

May 11, 2021 – For Immediate Release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a world that has required us to move online, there is no escape from cyberbullying. United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk has partnered with Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp and Grand Erie District School Board to spread awareness of cyberbullying and provide tips on how to help children experiencing it. Cyberbullying happens when technology is used to embarrass, threaten, or harass another person online. It is often done anonymously, which can create fear and distrust when the victim doesn\u2019t know who is attempting to cause them harm. Victims of cyberbullying may experience feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety that can lead to depression, eating disorders, chronic stress, and other health ailments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristal Chopp, Mayor of Norfolk County, provides personal insight on her experience with cyberbullying. Upon starting her career in politics, Chopp says, \u201cThe cyberbullying started immediately. Since being elected, one man plead guilty to uttering death threats to me and others spend their days posting blatant lies about me across various social media platforms. Some of them hide behind fake profiles, so I don\u2019t even know who is targeting me. Eventually the abuse became so repetitive and so offensive that it was eating me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After enduring years of cyber harassment, Chopp had the following to say about how she overcame it. \u201cIn the beginning,\u201d explains Chopp, \u201cI firmly believed that, as a politician, I should never block anyone from seeing any of my content. The advice to \u2018just ignore it\u2019 didn\u2019t work for me. You can\u2019t look at that negativity day in and day out and not have it affect you. So one day, I took my friend\u2019s advice and for a couple of the harassers; block-block and block. Don\u2019t be afraid to just shut out the negativity \u2013 it\u2019s liberating. The abusers are still out there, and new ones always emerge, so I made a conscious decision to minimize using social media. That is a challenge in my position because of how great of a tool it can be to communicate your message, but I do my best to find other ways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked if Chopp had any advice for anyone dealing with cyberbullying, she said, \u201cOne thing I\u2019ve learned is that no matter what you\u2019ll never please everyone, so the most important thing is that through it all, you just keep being you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children that experience cyber bullying may not tell their guardians in fear of having their electronic devices taken away. Some signs that children are being cyberbullied include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n