Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good Appeal To U.S Policy Makers

Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good; a group of teenagers and young people from across the U.S. that have been chosen by Microsoft for their common interest in digital civility, have written an open letter addressed to U.S. policy makers. The letter explains how issues such as cyberbullying have become so present within our lives that they are now considered ‘social norms’ for most Internet users.

“Issues like cyberbullying or repeated, hurtful behavior that occurs online stem from a new ‘online culture’ where users are able to conceal their identities, attack others maliciously, and disappear without a trace. For numerous users online, cyberbullying has become a societal norm faced every day.”

Microsoft Council for Digital Good

In order to achieve their end goal of digital civility, Microsoft believe that young people should be educated on how to take responsibility for their own actions online. Microsoft’s strategy to reach their goal is by encouraging schools to implement more educational resources for students. Social and emotional learning programs for all students are recommended as well as additional cyberbullying prevention training.

“Educating users can prove to be an influential factor in the spread of online positivity; so, in schools nationwide, we would like to see online safety and behavioral education supported and prioritized.”

Microsoft Council for Digital Good

Later in the open letter to U.S. lawmakers, Microsoft talks about how the same educational needs can be applied to more complicated concerns such as online sexual harassment, sexting and sextortion. The Council for Digital Good believe that this can be achieved by tackling the current stigma around the topics and opening up conversations about these subjects, offering students and potential victims a safe, welcoming environment as well as a sustained support system.

“By raising awareness and expanding youth’s education on these issues, more young people can avoid being exploited, and victims can feel comfortable knowing who to reach out to. But this will not be possible without cross-platform collaboration. The government, organizations, and companies from varying sectors should work together to bring about change, whether it be refining legal recourse through appropriate legislation, combining resources to create tools and programs to identify cases, or by hosting campaigns to spread a message of awareness.”

Microsoft Council for Digital Good

For the purpose of spreading their message further, Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good hosted a two-day summit in Washington to discuss the significance of promoting kindness and civility online.

If you are affected by any kind of online bullying or abuse we can help! Visit our Cyberbullying and Online Abuse Help Center or learn more about our Total Access Support to find out how we can help you with your particular problem. For further information about Cybersmile and the work we do, please explore the following suggestions:

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