Melania Trump BE BEST Initiative Releases Anti-Cyberbullying Guide

Melania Trump has launched an awareness campaign called 'BE BEST' that aims to promote healthy development in children. The White House explained in its announcement today that BE BEST wants to help teach kids "about the importance of social, emotional, and physical health." First on the agenda? A new information guide designed for parents to help their children deal with cyberbullying.

The guide is simply called "Talking with Kids About Being Online," and it includes a forward from the First Lady. In it, Melania Trump says she wants to "nurture the most valuable part of our society and our future: children." Digging into the document, we see that the guide itself was created by the FTC.

In it, officials highlight the basic ways people are using the Internet, as well as the risks involved, such as being exposed to cyber-bullies. Things kick off with a section for parents about talking to their kids, snowballing from there into using parental controls, talking to kids in different age groups, helping kids navigate online socialization, dealing with cyber-bullies, using smartphones, sharing content, and more.

In a statement today, the White House explained that BE BEST will also focus on other aspects, including: "healthy living, encouragement, kindness, and respect." The administration includes a mention of using this campaign to equip kids to "deal with the evils of the opioid crisis," too.

In a statement, Melania Trump said:

It remains our generation's moral imperative to take responsibility and help our children manage the many issues they are facing today, including encouraging positive social, emotional, and physical habits. By acknowledging there are many important issues, and knowing these problems cannot be solved overnight, I believe we can change the way we think and talk about issues facing children today.

Of course, if the White House truly wants to deal with cyberbullying, it should first lead by example. The guide itself is available here.

SOURCE: White House