Ask.fm partners with The Diana Award in the UK and Ireland to challenge, inspire and support young people to take positive action online
Landmark agreement will encourage 18,000 young people in the UK and Ireland to make informed online choices
DUBLIN, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ask.fm, the social Q&A network used by 150 million monthly users worldwide, today announced its partnership with The Diana Award, a respected and trusted youth charity that's committed to empowering thousands of young people in the UK and Ireland to tackle issues that affect other young people using a well-tested peer-led approach.
The two organisations have committed to work together to inspire young people, who really desire and value online connections, to make positive choices in social media in order to build an online culture that provides the support and insights they are seeking.
The partnership will help young people be aware of the impact that online communications have on themselves and others; be informed about how to use social media responsibly to protect themselves and others; and be more confident in how they interact with people online, in order to foster a culture of positive online behaviour. A school roadshow that will reach young people and multimedia content and videos for parents and educators will form the basis of the partnership.
The goals of the education programme set out in the partnership will include:
- Helping young people build skills to communicate in a meaningful, engaging and safe way online
- How to identify and respond to provocation, mean or bullying behaviour, and the importance of being respectful to others online
- Self expression online, and how to manage anonymity for positive use in social interactions
These goals will be achieved through a far reaching 2016 roadshow that will visit dozens of schools across the UK and Ireland and holding hands-on workshops, training sessions and focus groups involving over 18,000 young people. The roadshow will also engage parents, teachers and other professionals so they can help young people navigate their online worlds, have richer online social experiences and support each other. Learning from the roadshow will be used to help all young people develop a culture of safe, responsible and fun engagement online, tapping into the peer-peer ethos supported by The Diana Award.
The Diana Award has accomplished high regard in collaborating with young people, parents and schools to encourage self-expression; and meaningful and engaging interactions online. This expertise, applied to the Ask.fm community of 150 million users, has the power to engage young people and inspire a culture of inquisitive and enthusiastic exploration and respectful behaviour online that extends across online environments.
Tessy Ojo, Chief Executive of the Diana Award, said, "At the Diana Award, we are committed to giving young people the responsibility of the wellbeing of their peers and this partnership will allow us to explore with young people the social etiquettes around online behaviour and anonymity. This trendsetting piece of work will provide a footprint for hundreds of thousands of young people across the world and we are delighted to be leading the way with Ask.fm."
"The Diana Award has a credible voice with young people. Our partnership takes Ask.fm's safety efforts a further step forward to work in depth with communities, schools, parents and law enforcement. The programme will provide the necessary insights and tools for effectively communicating with young people, and inspire them towards informed and responsible online behaviour, as well as building their confidence and resilience online," said Annie Mullins OBE, European Director of trust and safety for Ask.fm. "The Diana Award has a proven track record of engaging young people and motivating them to take responsibility and social action for the world around them. It is the perfect partner for Ask.fm as we continue our commitment to promote positive action online for young people."
The partnership will be supported by other local organisations across the UK and Ireland.
About Ask.fm
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and with offices in North America and Eastern Europe, Ask.fm is the world's largest Q&A social network where more than 150 million monthly users in more than 150 countries connect and engage by asking each other questions. Ask.fm is operated by Ask.com, the leading brand for questions and answers and an operating business of IAC. Please visit Ask.fm to learn more about our service and commitment to user safety.
Media Enquiries
Kate Hartley, Carrot Communications for Ask.fm
Kate.hartley@carrotcommunications.com
+44 203 178 5052 / +44 771 406 5233
Emma Pelling for The Diana Award
Emma@pellingpr.co.uk
Share this article