Shutting mobile phone bullies out

In December 2008 Telenor Norway teamed up with the Red Cross and ChildMinder, an advisory organisation for children and media, to develop a free service that enables you to block text- or multimedia messages from certain numbers.

Bully filter – easy to use, free of charge

Using the bully filter from Telenor Norway, you can easily blacklist mobile phone numbers and their holders from sending text- or multimedia messages. The sender will receive an SMS warning, which points out that he or she has been blocked from sending messages to your child. The filter is easily activated by calling customer services. You can manage your filter through your own online account. The service is free of charge.

Many children subjected to cyber-bullying

Access to mobile communications and the Internet makes it easier for people to communicate with friends and family in distant locations. Moreover, recent studies by the Boston Consulting Group and Deloitte show that the telecom industry can make an important contribution to economic and social welfare.

While mobile communications can help build relationships, it can also have unwanted side-effects. In a survey commissioned by Telenor, 85 per cent of Norwegian parents said that mobile phones and Internet make bullying more common among minors. Almost half of all children aged 10 to 15 said they had bullied others or knew someone who had.

“The survey shows that digital bullying is a big problem for many children and young people. As a provider of mobile phone and Internet services, Telenor takes this problem very seriously. We want to be the best at security and safety. We have therefore developed specific tools against digital bullying,” says Ragnar KÃ¥rhus, head of Telenor in Norway.

Thousands are using the bully filter on their mobile phones

In February 2010 more than 2,000 mobile phone subscribers had installed the bully filter on their phones.

“The aim is to help establish a healthy set of values and standards among users of digital services. In the long term, we therefore hope that the need for bully filters and similar services will diminish. In the meantime, however, there is no doubt that such a need exists and that many need extra protection. The bully filter is a good and important contribution to this,” says Kårhus.

One in three parents do not speak with their children

The survey shows that more than one in three parents don’t speak with their children about mobile or internet bullying. The children answer approximately the same.

“Children do not always want to speak with their parents about issues such as digital bullying. That is why it is important for children to have a place to go to. The Red Cross is there for the children through the helpline “Kors på halsen” (Cross my heart), where they can talk to responsible and trained adults about their worries and questions,” says Sven Mollekleiv, President in the Norwegian Red Cross.

Lose faith in themselves

“The consequences are pretty much the same whether or not the bullying takes place online or in real life. Many people lose faith in themselves and their self-esteem is weakened. Quite a few also experience being excluded or bullied not only during school hours. It continues when they return home, either via the mobile phone or social media on the net,” Mollekleiv says.

Some of those who contact “Kors på halsen” describe the feelings about being excluded and ignored in this way:

“I have not been at school for about half a year because of bullying. I’m not bullied anymore, I have lost contact with all my best friends. I’m trying to get back in touch with my very best friend, who I am extremely fond of but she’s hanging out with others now. I am completely isolated, sitting at home and watching TV, etc. Could need some good advice?”

Extract from the debate forum on friendship and loneliness.

Working with partners to change attitudes

In September 2009 Telenor, the Red Cross, ChildMinder and the Norwegian Media Authority launched a nationwide campaign against digital bullying. Together they have developed a school campaign based on participation and dialogue with teachers, students and their parents. The campaign is called “Bruk Hue”, which can be roughly translated to “Think!”. The campaign offers specific advice on how to reduce the problem of digital bullying. In 2010, Telenor plans to increase the effort and visit twice as many schools as in 2009.

More about the school campaign “Bruk Hue”