Master students from the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University have led a comprehensive public awareness campaign against cyberbullying, highlighting its growing impact on young people's mental health and calling for greater empathy and responsibility online.
The campaign, tagged #WordsHurtToo: Say No to Cyberbullying, was conceived and executed as part of a strategic communications project focused on social impact. It was launched in response to increasing reports of online harassment and its emotional and psychological impact on teenagers.
As part of the initiative, students took the campaign to public spaces across Lagos, engaging members of the public in conversations about cyberbullying and encouraging them to share personal experiences. According to organizers, many of the conversations revealed the deep emotional, psychological and social damage that online abuse causes to victims.
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The campaign also gained popularity online, with widespread participation on social media platforms under the hashtags #WordsHurtToo and #SayNoToCyberbullying. Users shared personal stories, videos, and messages of support, helping to bridge offline and online engagement while fostering kindness, empathy, and accountability in digital spaces.
Building on this momentum, organizers partnered with the Safe Schools Project to host a teen conference aimed at educating youth about bullying and cyberbullying. The conference provided an interactive platform where teenagers learned to recognize different forms of bullying, understand their consequences and get appropriate support.
A keynote session was delivered by consultant psychiatrist Dr. Fagbo Oluwabusayo Olufunmilola, who discussed the effects of cyberbullying on the mental health of adolescents. They talked about issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and emotional trauma, as well as giving practical advice on resilience, coping strategies and accessing mental health care.
The outreach also extended to Fazil Omar High School in Yaba, where students were sensitized to various forms of cyberbullying and encouraged to speak up, seek help and practice responsible online behavior.
The project was conducted by Pan-Atlantic University master's students Funke Awogbade, Jemima Ugiagbe, Funmbi Oyediran, Jemima Edwin, Deborah Bakare, Moyesoreoluwa Aladesuyi and Anyoluwapo Fakayode.
Organizers said the initiative underlined the power of words and the need for a collective approach involving individuals, communities and institutions to effectively address cyberbullying.
More information and updates on the campaign are available on the hashtag #WordsHurtToo and on social media platforms @safe_net.initiative on Instagram and TikTok and @sn_initiative.
