Master’s students of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University have led a wide-ranging 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 communication project focused on social impact. It was launched in response to increasing reports of online harassment and its emotional and psychological toll on teenagers.
As part of the initiative, the 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 the organisers, many of the interactions revealed the deep emotional, psychological and social harm suffered by victims of online abuse.
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The campaign also gained traction online, with widespread participation across 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 promoting kindness, empathy and accountability in digital spaces.
Building on this momentum, the organisers partnered with the Safe School Project to host a Teens Conference aimed at educating young people about bullying and cyberbullying. The conference provided an interactive forum where teenagers learned how to recognise different forms of bullying, understand their consequences and seek appropriate support.
A key session was delivered by Dr Fagbo Oluwabusayo Olufunmilola, a consultant psychiatrist, who addressed the effects of cyberbullying on adolescent mental health. She spoke about issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and emotional trauma, while offering 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 sensitised to the various forms of cyberbullying and encouraged to speak up, seek help and practise responsible online behaviour.
The project was carried out by Pan-Atlantic University master’s students Funke Awogbade, Jemimah Ugiagbe, Funmbi Oyediran, Jemimah Edwin, Deborah Bakare, Moyosoreoluwa Aladesuyi and Aanuoluwapo Fakayode.
Organisers said the initiative underscored the power of words and the need for a collective approach involving individuals, communities and institutions to effectively address cyberbullying.
Further information and updates on the campaign are available via the hashtag #WordsHurtToo and on social media platforms @safe_net.initiative on Instagram and TikTok, and @sn_initiative on X.
