New York, NY (Top40 Charts) A public service announcement featuring recording artist Kesha illustrates the prevalence and severity of online harassment by featuring real-life examples and a call for viewers to stand together and take action. Hack Harassment, a coalition dedicated to building a more inclusive and supportive online community, released the video as the first in a series of public service announcements (PSA) aimed at raising awareness to the problem of online harassment, its real-life impact and the responsibility we all share to speak out against it. (Credit: Hack Harassment)
Hack Harassment, a coalition dedicated to building a more inclusive and supportive online community, today released the first in a series of public service announcement (PSA) videos aimed at raising awareness to the problem of online harassment, its real-life impact and the responsibility we all share to speak out against it. Featuring recording artist Kesha, the short video illustrates the prevalence and severity of online harassment by featuring real-life examples and a call for viewers to stand together and take action.
Watch the Hack Harassment PSA here, which highlights real examples of language high-schoolers have used online.
"I am honored to participate in Hack Harassment's PSA campaign," Kesha said. "This issue is near and dear to my heart. No one, regardless of their identity, background or beliefs, should be subjected to harassment online. I look forward to working with Hack Harassment and its partners to help raise awareness of this important issue in order to bring about more inclusive and safer online communities."
Online harassment is pervasive. According to a Data & Society/CiPHR Measuring Cyberabuse poll, young people younger than age 30 are more likely to witness online harassment, with nearly 65 percent of all American men and women between ages 15 and 29 having experienced online harassment or abuse.
"Everyone deserves the right to be safe online, especially our young people whose digital and offline lives are inexorably linked," said Cynthia Germanotta, president and co-founder of Born This Way Foundation, which is a founding partner of Hack Harassment. "We applaud Kesha for stepping up to help raise awareness of this important issue and hope it will serve as a reminder that online harassment is real and that we all have a role to play in reducing it."
In partnership with Screen Vision Media, the PSA featuring Kesha will run on 5,000 screens at 654 theatres across the country throughout the month of February as well on various social media channels managed by Hack Harassment and its partners.
"We are very proud to partner with Kesha to develop and support this important PSA," said Chris Loo, director of Hack Harassment and director of global diversity and inclusion at Intel Corporation. "By sharing her perspective on the widespread consequences of online harassment, Kesha is helping Hack Harassment raise additional awareness around a critically important issue so that we can reduce the severity and impact of harassment and abuse online."
Hack Harassment is currently working on partnering with other high-profile celebrities for upcoming PSAs. To learn more about Hack Harassment's goals, mission and to sign the #HackHarassment pledge, visit www.HackHarassment.com.
