Teen to pitch anti-bullying idea to Google

Chantelle Cobby wants to promote positive online behaviour. Photo / Stephen Parker

Chantelle Cobby's kind heart and enterprising spirit will see her pitch her anti-bullying web campaign to Google's headquarters in Sydney next month.

The 17-year-old Rotorua Girls' High School student is one of three winners of a nation-wide competition run by NetSafe and Google where participants create campaigns that promote positive online behaviour.

Chantelle's campaign, which is called Noble, encourages people to be positive online. She has Facebook and Instagram pages, where she leads by example, posting positive quotes, images and video, as well as a website with advice on positive online habits.

"I heard about it last year on YouTube and I enjoy getting involved in stuff like this and it sounded like something I would really enjoy doing - ending cyber bullying in New Zealand.

"I think it affects everyone and anyone involved in social media. Basically it's about positive role modelling. We can change whatever is happening by uploading positive photos and videos and encouraging people to be positive online.

"I am hoping that by encouraging others to be positive online, this positivity will spread, and bullies will conform to these new positive standards."

She visited Wellington last week to attend the awards ceremony for the competition at Parliament where she found out she would be heading to Sydney in just over two weeks to pitch her ideas to Google. She said she had not expected to win, and was looking forward to visiting Google. "I was overwhelmed by it. They are putting my dad and I up for two nights and we will stay for an extra four and just do some sight-seeing. It's the potential of them [Google] taking your campaign and using it but other than that it's the experience ..."

- Visit https://www.facebook.com/Noble-1473879672927785/timeline/; noblepositive.weebly.com; instagram.com/noble-nz/' target='_blank'>facebook.com/pages/Noble; noblepositive.weebly.com; instagram.com/noble-nz/

or adviceforcyberbullies.weebly.com.