Children in Romania are encouraged to report online abuse
It is vital that young people have access to services that help protect them from cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse that take place online. Telekom Romania (part of Deutsche Telekom) supports an application called HappyGraff so that children and teenagers can report online concerns and access support services.
HappyGraff includes a free helpline and online chat service, run in collaboration with Asociaţia Telefonul Copilului (the Romanian children’s telephone association). Young people can report abuse, including cyberbullying and online grooming, as well as potentially illegal content. The app also works as a journal where young people can record their feelings and keep track of situations in which they feel uncomfortable, such as when they are being harassed online or offline.
Commenting on the launch of HappyGraff, Florina Șerban, CSR expert at Telekom Romania, said, “We believe we can reduce the harassment risks among adolescents at a vulnerable age, who can make wrong decisions and become either victims or abusers, by educating them on the responsible use of online platforms.”
