The Web and cell phones help us communicate, connect and learn in ways we never could before, but they've also forever changed how we interact with others. Things we used to share in person – and in private – can now be broadcast to thousands, instantly. Sometimes we type things we would never say to someone's face. As a result, new issues like forced sexting, textual harassment and cyberbullyiing have emerged, which now affect a majority of young people in the U.S.
MTV's A Thin Line campaign was developed to empower you to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse in your life and amongst your peers. The campaign is built on the understanding that there's a "thin line" between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else. We know no generation has ever had to deal with this, so we want to partner with you to help figure it out. On-air, online and on your cell, we hope to spark a conversation and deliver information that helps you draw your own digital line.
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Anti-Defamation League
One of the nation's premier civil rights and human relations agencies, the Anti-Defamation League challenges anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects the rights of all people. ADL's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute is a leader in the development and delivery of anti-bias education and diversity training programs and resources that promote and sustain inclusive and respectful school, work and home environments. The Institute's programs addressing cyberbullying and online social cruelty help thousands of students and educators each year to create safer and more respectful electronic communities. |
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Asian American Justice Center
The Asian American Justice Center, a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, works closely with its sister organizations – the Asian American Institute in Chicago, the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles – to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities. |
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Break the Cycle
At Break the Cycle, we believe everybody has the right to safe and healthy relationships—regardless of where they live, who they are or what they believe. That is why we work everyday towards our mission to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from domestic violence. Break the Cycle offers programs that defy geographic bounds—ensuring that no young person is excluded from receiving the help, tools and information they need to live free from violence. Our success is demonstrated by more than a decade of leadership in working with teens to prevent and end domestic and dating violence. |
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Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. |
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ConnectSafely
ConnectSafely.org is for parents, teens, educators, advocates - everyone engaged in the impact of the social Web. Linked to from social networks across the Web, it’s a place to learn and talk about safe, civil use of digital media and technology. In addition to offering advice to parents, educators and policy makers, ConnectSafely operates a forum to give parents and teens a voice in the public discussion about youth online safety. ConnectSafely has videos, safety tips, news, analysis and lots of hands-on advice for teens, parents and everyone concerned about youth safety on the fixed and mobile social Web. |
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. |
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DoSomething.org
Do Something believes teenagers have the power to make a difference. We leverage communication technologies to enable teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action. Recipient of Fast Company's Social Capitalist Award in 2008 and Webby People's Voice Award for Best Youth Website in 2009, Do Something inspires, empowers and celebrates a generation of doers: Teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. |
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Facebook
Founded in February 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment. Facebook is a privately held company and is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. |
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Futures Without Violence
Futures Without Violence works to prevent violence within the home, and in the community, to help those whose lives are devastated by violence because everyone has the right to live free of violence. |
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FRONTLINE
Since 1983, FRONTLINE has served as American public television's flagship public affairs series. Hailed upon its debut on PBS as "the last best hope for broadcast documentaries," FRONTLINE's stature over 28 seasons is reaffirmed each week through incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human experience. Digital Nation is a new, open source PBS project that explores what it means to be human in an entirely new world - a digital world. |
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GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, visit www.glaad.org. |
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GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org. |
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iKeepSafe
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is an international coalition of more than 100 leaders worldwide with a shared vision of seeing generations grow up safely using technology and the Internet. Coalition members include policy leaders, industry, public health, child advocacy, law enforcement, and education experts, working together to bring all communities into full digital citizenship. iKeepSafe tracks global trends and issues surrounding Web-based products, and develops positive, research-based resources to teach the safe and healthy use of connected technologies. Internationally, iKeepSafe has outreach programs in Australia, China, Dubai, Nigeria, the UK and US. |
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Liz Claiborne (loveisnotabuse.com)
Since 1991, Liz Claiborne Inc. has been working to end domestic violence. Through its Love is Not Abuse program, the company provides information and tools that men, women, children, teens and corporate executives can use to learn more about the issue and find out how they can help end this epidemic. |
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Loveisrespect.org National Dating Abuse Helpline
loveisrespect, National Dating Abuse Helpline was launched in February 2007 with help from founding sponsor, Liz Clairborne Inc. It is a national 24-hour resource that can be accessed by phone or the internet, specifically designed for teens and young adults. The Helpline and loveisrespect.org offer real-time one-on-one support from trained Peer Advocates. Managed by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH), loveisrespect, National Dating Abuse Helpline operates from a call center in Austin, Texas. |
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MySpace
MySpace is a technology company connecting people through personal expression, content, and culture. It empowers its global community to experience the Internet through a social lens by integrating personal profiles, photos, videos, mobile, messaging, games, and the world's largest music community. MySpace is dedicated to the safety, security and privacy of its users and committed to making its community as safe as possible for all of its members. MySpace is a division of News Corporation. (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) |
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myYearbook
myYearbook makes meeting new people fun and easy, both online and on your mobile phone. myYearbook combines innovative social games, virtual goods and a robust virtual currency called "Lunch Money" to facilitate introductions and break the ice. According to comScore, myYearbook is one of the 25 most trafficked sites in the United States as measured by total minutes per month, and by minutes per visitor per month. myYearbook started in a single high school in 2005 and has grown to over 27 million members worldwide. |
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NAACP
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. |
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The National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations, NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas—assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio. |
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Ruder Finn
Ruder Finn builds corporate reputation, brand-loyalty and trust for corporations, brands and institutions among their most important stakeholders, consumers and constituents. |
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The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through a free and confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources and advocacy. For more information, visit www.thetrevorproject.org. |
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Wired Safety
WiredSafety.org is a 501(c) (3) charity and the largest and oldest online safety, education, and help group in the world. Originating in 1995 as a group of volunteers rating websites, it now provides one-to-one help, extensive information, and education to cyberspace users of all ages on a myriad of Internet and interactive technology safety issues. |
Blue Shield of California Foundation
Blue Shield of California Foundation is committed to ending domestic violence. As the largest private funder of domestic violence prevention and services in California, the Foundation provides core support to more than 100 organizations statewide. The Foundation has conducted pioneering research and developed innovative campaigns designed to empower youth to "dial down the drama" in their relationships and prevent teen dating violence. |
In 2013, MTV and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released the results of a new survey exploring the pervasiveness of digital abuse and digital discrimination among teens and young adults, how it is affecting America’s youth and how they’re responding to it.
As part of its multi-year public affairs campaign to address youth digital abuse – which has reached over 30 million on-air and mobilized over 1 million to take action – MTV partnered with the AP in 2011 on a study that provides an in-depth look at bullying, abuse and discrimination in the digital age. This research was designed to quantify how young people are experiencing, affected by and responding to issues like cyberbullying, digital dating abuse and online slurs.
In 2009, MTV and the Associated Press partnered on a study that offers an in-depth look at the prevalence of digital abuse among American youth today. The study reveals several new insights about how young people are affected by and responding to issues like sexting, digital harassment and digital dating.