MAM
Facebook, Time Warner expand bullying prevention campaign
MUMBAI: Online social network Facebook and US media conglomerate Time Warner are bringing together and expanding their individual efforts against bullying to launch a wide-ranging, major cross-platform partnership initiative called Stop Bullying: Speak Up.
The multi-media campaign, named after the original anti-bullying initiative by Time Warner‘s Cartoon Network, will integrate broadcast, print, online and social media to ignite a conversation to educate parents, teachers and youth about the actions that will help protect young people from the impact of bullying.
This partnership is the latest in a line of initiatives from both Facebook and Time Warner Inc. to prevent bullying. Earlier this year, Facebook unveiled its newly designed Family Safety Center and a ‘Social Report Tool,‘ which enables people to report bullying or harassment to parents, teachers or trusted friends.
CNN, Cartoon Network and Time combined their on-going efforts and resources last year for a national multi-platform campaign, which included the CNN program, Bullying: No Escape; an AC 360 Special Report with People and Cartoon Network, hosted by Anderson Cooper.
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said, “For the past two years, we‘ve been working closely with Facebook to expand the bullying prevention campaign that was started by our own Cartoon Network, and includes several of our other leading brands. In partnering with Facebook for the next phase of our effort, we will now be able to communicate this important message to an even broader audience. I‘m confident that through our multiplatform approach and combined resources we can inspire even more people to take action against bullying.”
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said, “We care deeply about the safety of our nation‘s children and are proud to be partnering with Time Warner to raise awareness of bullying. We believe that by working together with parents and teachers, we can teach young people to speak up and stop bullying.”
The announcement comes after the recent White House Convention on Bullying Prevention, which was attended by policymakers and representatives from the media industry, nonprofit and education communities.
As part of the initiative, Facebook and Time Warner Inc. will leverage the reach, depth and social connections of each of their properties.
The campaign will now include:
CNN‘s Anderson Cooper 360° Town Hall – Anderson Cooper will host a second town hall-in partnership with Time Warner and Facebook-dedicated to discussing the current bullying issues confronting kids today as well as discussions with certified experts to teach adults on coping with this epidemic.
The special hour is scheduled to air on CNN in October as part of Bullying Prevention Month, with additional pieces and reports leading up to it.
Facebook‘s Social Media Pledge- An interactive Stop Bullying: Speak Up Social Pledge App that will enable educators, parents, and kids to make a personal commitment-and recruit others to join them-to help stop bullying. The App is scheduled to launch in time for the Fall 2011 back-to-school season.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
