Prince George, B.C. – A new report calls on the provincial government to adopt a co-ordinated and comprehensive cyberbullying strategy.

Put together by B.C.’s Information and Privacy Commissioner and Representative for Children and Youth, the 42 page report was released this week at a conference in Vancouver.

The report recommends the Attorney General consider developing prosecution guidelines in dealing with cyberbullying cases which “reflect a child-centred approach for laying charges against minors” and which considers “the greater impacts of criminalizing children and youth.”

The report also recommends the Ministry of Education’s redesigned curriculum educates students on the harms of cyberbullying and notes teachers should be educated on the elements of cyberbullying as part of their professional development.

It also says social media companies have a role to play,and recommends they “develop policies and processes that facilitate the removal of personal information from social networks in cases of cyberbullying or where personal information has been inappropriately posted without consent.”

The full report can be accessed by clicking here.