Dr. Seline Keating:

I wanted to add to what Dr. Foody said about developing empathy skills with children and young people so they are aware of the consequences of the decisions they make and the responsibility they have when they are navigating online tools, especially social media, and the potential impact it can have on another person. That includes having activities with children and young people where they can explore walking in the shoes of a bystander and what they could do, walking in the shoes of a bully and what they could do, and walking in the shoes of the victim and what they could do. Drawing on Olweus’s research on the bullying circle, it includes being aware that standing up to bullying does not ever mean putting yourself in danger, and it can be telling someone and knowing those potentially five trusted adults who they could tell, who can intervene and help with what they are witnessing, such as a teacher, a principal or a parent.