Here's a touching illustration of how social media can combat the effects of bullying.
More than a year ago, a little girl reached out to advocacy group The Bully Project after catching flak at school for wearing glasses. With the organization's help, she posted a photo of herself on Facebook holding a sign about her experience—and received millions of shares and messages of support.
A new minute-long Ad Council PSA captures her story. The spot is everything it should be—simple, sweet and meaningful. Internet bullying has been getting a lot of attention, as it should—but it's also good to show how online tools can help ameliorate the problem.
The video is aimed specifically at parents: The girl's mother is featured helping her daughter navigate the issue and absorb the resulting support. But anyone in similar straits might also be reassured to see they're not alone, that it's OK to ask for help, and that their own story might even have a happy ending.
Plus—as if the kid herself weren't enough to convince viewers that bullying is evil—there's a shot of her hugging a cute dog in a lavender sweater, whose worldly posture and steady, reproachful gaze makes it pretty clear that would-be detractors should go take a good long look at themselves in the mirror.
