Digital Ambassadors in $1 million anti-(cyber)bullying project

Facebook, Instagram and PROJECT ROCKIT have teamed up to announce a landmark $1 million anti-(cyber)bullying partnership for Australian high school students.

The program will upscale PROJECT ROCKIT's youth-driven approach and build a network of Digital Ambassadors who will lead social change against bullying online and offline in schools across Australia. Over the course of 2019 and 2020, Facebook’s investment in the partnership will grow 10,000 PROJECT ROCKIT Digital Ambassadors from 600 schools in 40 metropolitan, regional and rural communities.

At the launch, Lucy Thomas Co-Founder of PROJECT ROCKIT said: “Our vision for a PROJECT ROCKIT Digital Ambassador is to be a powerful source of leadership in the online world. Digital Ambassadors recognise their power in the online world and use that power for good. They use their unique strengths to stand up, challenge the status quo and reclaim technology as a tool for positivity.

“We know that the most powerful way to dismantle hate is to build a kind, connected world, online and offline. We can and must go further than tackling (cyber)bullying by equipping young people with the skills, empathy and peer-based support to lead positive online communities."

Antigone Davis, Director and Head of Global Safety at Facebook said: “This ongoing partnership with PROJECT ROCKIT is the next step in our ongoing effort to help young people build safe and supportive communities.

“Over the last decade, we have developed a wealth of innovative resources on Facebook that enable young people to look after themselves and their peers, from our updated Safety Centre, Bullying Prevention Hub and Youth Portal, to our online comment moderation and reporting tools.

“PROJECT ROCKIT's Digital Ambassadors program aims to bring young Aussies together to explore online safety issues in the real world in a safe, supportive environment. We look forward to getting feedback and input from students that can add even more peer-led ideas and initiatives in the future.”

Parents, students and educators are encouraged to nominate their school to be part of PROJECT ROCKIT's Digital Ambassadors program at projectrockit.com.au/digitalambassadors