The Kering Foundation (parent company of Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and more) is taking a stand against cyberbullying with its new #IDon’tSpeakHater campaign. The hashtag is “designed to encourage the participation of Generation Z, the first generation to live so much of their lives online, to defend their peers from online harassment and support the person attacked by translating the hate into something empowering. By reformulating the insult with a positive meaning with wit or humor, it shows that it serves no purpose,” Kering states on its website for the campaign.
The company released figures about cyberbullying across the world. In the United States alone, nearly one in five U.S. individuals will experience “extreme” online harassment such as physical threats, stalking and online sexual harassment. It was also reported that 73 percent of women have experienced online abuse and 55 percent of women said they had experienced stress, anxiety or panic attacks after experiencing online abuse or harassment. According to Kering, “The consequences of online abuse are no different from those of bullying in real life. Stress disorders and trauma, anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and physical pain.”
The brands of Kering have also taken a stand via their own social media platforms to promote the campaign. As November 25, the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, approaches, it’s time to reflect on our actions and words on social media and to recognize and stop toxic behaviors such as cyberbullying.
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