The Toronto Star – Laura Kane
“British Columbia’s privacy and children’s watchdogs are urging the province to make cyberbullying education a mandatory part of the school curriculum and teacher development. Privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham and children’s representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond submitted a joint report to the B.C. legislature on Friday, calling for a co-ordinated, cross-ministry strategy to prevent online harassment. “The high-profile suicides of recent years of Canadian teenagers — including B.C.’s Amanda Todd — appeared to be a response to particularly vicious cyberbullying,” the report said. “These tragic cases, and many other instances of exploitation of young people, have brought the issue of cyberbullying to the forefront of public consciousness.” Todd, 15, took her life at her Port Coquitlam home in 2012 after an explicit photo of her was shared on Facebook. The report highlights her case, as well as that of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons, who killed herself in 2013 after a picture circulated of her alleged sexual assault. The report, which included first-hand input from youth, calls for action from B.C.’s education and justice ministries, social media companies, Internet providers and parents.”(more)