Why do we love MTV’s “A Thin Line” campaign? Because issues like digital disrespect, sexting, spying, and cyber bulling are things that affect so many teens. When our lives are filtered through our personal profiles and cell phones, it can be hard to know what is normal when it comes to internet/phone interactions. After all, often no one else sees your texts but you.
But that’s where athinline.org comes in. It has tons of teens talking about tech issues like that. Between videos, blog posts, quizzes and more, it’s a good place to get a lot of information. And if you need to talk to someone, MTV has listed our number and chat so you can discuss your thoughts with one our peer dating advocates.
So we’re very happy to see that MTV has been nominated for one of the biggest broadcasting awards around, the Golden Beacon Award. We wish them luck.
Listen to Jason Rzepka, VP of MTV’s Public Affairs discuss “A Thin Line” in an interview with JustMeans:
Things got serious on the Real World last week. Fans watched as cast member Jemmye opened up about being in an abusive relationship and began seeking counseling on last week’s show.
Jemmye had an eye-opening moment after she had a breakdown after a day of heavy partying. She returned to the house and started breaking things, cussing the other house-mates out and refused to go to bed. It was during this tirade that Jemmye began to reveal things about her past relationship.
Read more about the events of the show in the Baltimore Sun’s write-up.
With the help of her roommate, Knight, Jemmye seeks help at a women’s shelter nearby. She begins talking about the situation and makes a commitment to go to counseling regularly. Watch the clip:
At the end of the show, our helpline number ran, encouraging anyone who is in an abusive relationship, or knows of someone in an abusive relationship, to call for support.
After the Scott and Kourtney started arguing, muffled thuds came from behind their closed door and Kim Kardashian, holding Kourtney’s son in another room, started calling out to her sister with concern. Kourtney soon emerged from the bedroom and locked herself in Kim’s room. Kourtney later revealed that Scott had sprung out of bed, grabbed her arm and that she smacked him across the face. The girls left the apartment immediately, and soon after, Scott punched a mirror, smashing both the glass and his hand.
The show’s season finale deals with the aftermath of this incident.
If you find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe, remember you can always talk to someone anonymously at the loveisrespect National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1-866-331-9474.
Have you heard of the celtic-rock band Apsylon? They have a really cool sound that blends classical, celtic rock and rock music. With the recent release of their debut album “Dreaming of Yesterday” they have teamed up with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and loveisrespect to raise awareness about the many forms of relationship abuse. Ten percent of their album sales will go toward The Hotline and loveisrespect to help us promote respectful, safe relationships. Check out their video after the jump for their song “Lena” which tells the story of a domestic abuse experience. Click here to visit their official website. Read more…
Robert Diaz is asking teens in Orange County to think again about giving out online passwords to a dating partner. Stalking has changed from something physical to using social networking sites and other online accounts to control someone else. Diaz grew up in an abusive home and knows what unhealthy relationships look like. Now he’s spoken to 26,000 students in the county to help combat domestic violence with Irvine’s Human Options non-profit . Read what Robert has to say about the warning signs of teen abuse here.
Did you know? There are 67 different ways to abuse someone with a cell phone. Liz Claiborne Inc. and the Education Development Center Inc. are going into classrooms for conversations about technology and dating abuse. Diane Beni teaches in the program and admits that “kids know more than we do. And the middle man is gone. No one is calling the house. No one is developing photos at the drug store.” Click here to see what else Columbia High students are talking about in class. The program will be in high schools nationwide.
MTV launched A THIN LINE to help you draw your own line between digital abuse and not abuse. Now as a next step, they need your help in developing a first-of-its-kind “digital bill of rights.” Based on feedback they received from you on Facebook, twitter, MySpace, and “Over the Line?,” they started a list. Now its time for you to submit your suggestions, possible names for the list, and vote for your favorite rights to push them to the top of the list.
Input will be collected through the end of June. In the fall, the list will officially launch. What do you think your digital rights should be? Click here to submit your suggestions!
In the wake of the brutal murder of University of Virginia student Yeardley Love, educators, parents, and teen dating abuse and domestic violence organizations are rallying to address the serious and escalating issue of safe dating in order to prevent such a tragic event from occurring again.
According to a recent survey conducted by Liz Claiborne Inc. and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, nearly 1 in 3 teenagers who have been in a relationship report actual sexual abuse, physical abuse, or threats of physical abuse. These are very alarming statistics and as William L. McComb, CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc. phrases it – a ticking time bomb. Please click here to check out his thoughts on the issue.
Lara Beck’s winning slogan for the “That’s Not Cool” campaign won her a trip to Washington D.C. for the NFL Players Gala last month. She walked the gala’s red carpet after her simple slogan, “in a relationship, you love each other. (Not stalk each other.) Just thought you’d like to know,” was chosen as the national Callout Card design winner.
Lara is a junior at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio and a part of the movement to help teens recognize dating violence when it happens. She feels that teens should always work on healthy relationships “so they know what they are looking for in a person.” She’s making a difference now by speaking out with a simple message. Click here to check out the rest of the story.
Men Rally for Change, an organization dedicated to speaking up for safe communities and healthy relationships and strengthening men’s involvement in ending violence against women held a rally and march this past weekend. The organization which is under the umbrella of SafePlace’s Expect Respect Program in Austin, TX held the rally as part of SafePlace’s Field Day and Festival. It was a fun day of competition, activities and prizes as well as fundraising in support of SafePlace’s services for those affected by sexual and domestic violence. loveisrespect was proud to partner up with this worthy organization and take part in the rally and march. Click here to check out News 8 Austin’s coverage of the event. Additional footage and photos from the rally are available after the jump. Read more…
Men Rally for Change
