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Kindr: An App that Aims to Promote Kindness

October 22, 2013 by CiviliNation

 

This guest post by CiviliNation advisor Sue Scheff features a Q&A with Kindr founder Matt Ivester. It’s a fascinating read, cross-posted from Sue’s personal blog, that talks about how Ivester’s past experiences with online attacks helped shape the direction he’s taking today.

———-

Recently I was asked to interview Matt Ivester, the creator of the now defunct site JuicyCampus.com, a site that was a stomping ground for online haters and bullies. Thankfully, years later he’s turned things around by making a positive difference in the lives of students online.

Matt, who is also the author of the bestselling book lol…OMG!, explains why he changed course and is now focused on making a positive difference through projects such as his new Kindr app.

1.  What is Kindr, and what inspired its creation?

Kindr is an iPhone app that makes it fun and easy to send compliments to friends and family.  The compliments range from range from hilarious to light-hearted to sentimental. “You’d have a real shot at winning America’s Next Top Instagrammer, if that were a thing,” and “You always pick the best songs when riding shotgun” are two of my personal favorites.  Also, through a partnership with the Huffington Post, the app also provides a “Good News” feed featuring the inspiring acts of kindness that take place all over the world.

The inspiration for Kindr really came from thinking about cyberbullying, and asking ourselves “What’s the opposite of cyberbullying?”  We think the answer is kindness, and we’re excited about using the same technology that has enabled cyberbullying to become so pervasive to now make kindness go viral.

2. Your press release describes Kindr as “a technology company dedicated to making the world a kinder place.” Creating a kinder world is a very ambitious goal. Aside from creating the app, how do you envision making that happen?

At this point, we’re not sure what will come after the app. But our work with the app is far from over.  Building version one was the easy part.  In order to actually achieve our goal of making the world a kinder place, we’ve got to get a lot of people using the app.  We’ve got to get feedback from our users about what aspects they like and which could be better.  We’ve got to make it work outside the US.  And we’ve got to make it super viral.  We’ve had tens of thousands of compliments sent in just the first couple weeks here, but we want millions.  So for now we’re going to keep fine tuning it, listening to our users, and thinking up new ways to facilitate kindness through the app.

3. Increasing kindness online is obviously important to you. Some would say that compassion is even more important. Do kindness and compassion mean the same thing to you?

Kindness and compassion are certainly closely related, but to me they aren’t the same.  Compassion is the ability to empathize with others, understand that we all fall short sometimes, and that bad things can happen to good people.  Compassion is the emotion we feel when we see someone who needs our help.  Kindness is the action part that follows compassion – it’s what we do in reaction to that emotion.

That said, I’m a big believer in everyday kindness.  We don’t need a reason to be kind.  Sometimes the best kindness is kindness for its own sake.  There’s a great video called This is Water, which is derived from a commencement speech by David Foster Wallace.  You’d have to watch it to really understand, but basically, it likens fish swimming in water to us living our lives.  It points out that our “water” is made up of all the everyday situations we encounter like grocery shopping, waiting in line, driving in traffic, etc.  Kindr isn’t about any particular event, group of people, or period of time, that triggers compassion in us and leads to kindness. Instead, it’s about making every day better – to make the water a little more enjoyable to swim in.

4. Kindr is currently an iPhone app. Will you be creating a version for other platforms as well?

We would love to have an Android app (and Blackberry and Windows apps, too).  But with such a small team it just wasn’t feasible for launch.  It would be great if some big company heard about Kindr and offered some help to get us up on those platforms.  Barring that though, it will probably be a few months before we are available on any other platforms. It’s definitely a high priority for us, and in the meantime, everyone can always read the compliments sent to them, regardless of platform.

5. You wrote the book lol…OMG! What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying. The book has been out for about a year now. What are the top things students have told you they’re glad you taught them about online behavior?

Over the past few months I’ve spoken at quite a few high schools, and having the opportunity to hear directly from students has been really interesting.  Recently, they’ve been asking a lot of questions about Snapchat, and many are surprised when I explain how easy it is to save the snaps they send to friends (either through a picture by a second phone, or with apps like Snap Save).  It definitely makes them think twice before using Snapchat to send provocative pictures.

The other thing that a lot of students appreciate knowing (before it’s too late) is that college admissions officers are increasingly using the Internet to find additional information about applicants.  The latest survey by Kaplan says that 27% of admissions officers have Googled an applicant to get additional information.  It really drives home the importance of being what I call “conscious content creators” and actively managing their online reputations.

6. A few years back you created JuicyCampus.com, which you described in your book as “the biggest college gossip website in the country) (first paragraph in Preface). Online gossip sites are often cesspools of attacking and demeaning behavior, some of them via the content they directly post, others via the comments, and frequently a combination of the two. JuicyCampus.com had its own share of well-publicized problems. How did JuicyCampus.com’s failings inspire you to join the anti-bullying movement?

I talk about JuicyCampus in terms of my own personal “lol…OMG!” experience.  I started it thinking it would be fun and funny (lol), only to realize later that it had unanticipated negative consequences (OMG!).  I was young, and the social Internet was still relatively new, so when I started the site I just didn’t understand how fundamentally different online gossip was compared to offline because of the permanence, immediacy and incredible reach of the Internet.

Running JuicyCampus forced me to confront issues of cyberbullying before the term “cyberbullying” was even in our vernacular. I’m glad that I have been able to take what was such a negative experience for so many people and turn it into something positive, first with my book and now with Kindr.

 

Filed Under: Cybercivility Tagged With: Civility, Conflict Resolution, Cyberbullying, Reputation

Online Hatred Risks Silencing Others

August 14, 2013 by CiviliNation

It’s disheartening to realize that some people believe that online speech which isn’t legally actionable is automatically socially benign. In other words, if it’s not illegal, so their thinking goes, it must be ok. But while law and ethics overlap, they are not synonymous. There are plenty of laws that are antiquated or downright idiotic. And there is plenty of online speech that is legal yet unquestionably unfairly harmful to targets and victims. One of the biggest problems that attacking and hateful speech causes is the resulting silencing of others.

While there may not be physical or legal halting of targets’ or victims’ ability to continue to engage online, the psychological effects of the threats or attacks nevertheless place shackles on them. There may not be any outward signs, but the deleterious effects are as strong as if they were physically bound.

Recognition of this fact was an important force in the creation of CiviliNation’s mission “to foster an online culture where every person can freely participate in a democratic, open, rational and truth-based exchange of ideas and information, without fear or threat of being the target of unwarranted abuse, harassment or lies.”

The silencing effect is fortunately now starting to be addressed by the media. The recent Salon article Women’s free speech is under attack* by Kelly Diels states that “the threats and trolling women receive online silence them just as effectively as any censorship.”

Diels goes on to explain that the “coordinated campaigns of trolling, doxing and Ddos attacks are explicitly designed not only to silence you, but also to embarrass you, scare you, harass you, get government agencies to investigate you, vandalize your property, make you move, get you fired, ruin your life.”

Suggestions for addressing the problem vary. On Twitter, for example, one of the most abuse-prone platforms currently online, it ranges from creating a Twitter button that would make the reporting of threats and abuse easier (something we previously discussed here) to actively blocking attackers via the Block Bot, which describes itself as “Helping you ignore people from annoyance to bigot on Twitter.” (Block Bot features three different blocking levels, from Level 1 which deals with the worst trolls, as well as impersonators and stalkers, to Level 3 which deals with individuals who might not be actual haters but are nevertheless obnoxious.) Meanwhile, journalist Quinn Norton argues that having conversations about the root causes of the hatred* behind the online attacks is critical: “It’s not always a pleasant conversation, but we need to have it. Just shutting down the voices we don’t like doesn’t make the sentiments go away.”

We agree that in addition to technological tools that can help people protect themselves against vicious online attacks, education is vital. We need to teach people how to create a strong online reputation, how to monitor their online footprint, how to safeguard their privacy and personal information, how to effectively engage with others (and how to effectively disengage), and teach people what their legal rights are.

 

* NOTE: While the sources mentioned here focus on online attacks against women, a group that continues to bear much of the brunt of online hatred, attacks are unfortunately not limited to this group. Attacks are also aimed at other vulnerable individuals or groups, or those otherwise perceived as particularly socially threatening.

 

(Photo source: “Rage” by SignorDeFazio http://www.flickr.com/photos/37912579@N08/3650954991

 

 

Filed Under: Cybercivility Tagged With: Anger Management, Civility, Conflict Resolution, Cyberbullying, Defamation, Freedom of Speech, Law, Reputation

Troll Avenue

August 5, 2013 by CiviliNation

In Civility in the Digital Age: How Companies and People Can Triumph over Haters, Trolls, Bullies and Other Jerks, trolls are described as “attention-seekers whose sole goal is to wreak havoc online for the purpose of fun and pleasure. Moreover, they thrive on the perceived weakness, naiveté, and emotional reactions of their victims.”

But trolls aren’t a homogenous group comprised simply of stereotypically angry young men, they also consist of “young women, and men easily old enough to be fathers and grandfathers.” While there are many different types of trolls, one interesting observation about trolls is that they seem to be increasingly gravitating to Twitter. Maybe it’s due to the ease with which they can create trouble (no need to get particularly lengthy with insults or attacks, 140 character is all that’s needed!) and the popularity and high-profile nature of the platform.

Trolls are making international headlines again because they’ve publicly gone after Caroline Criado-Perez for successfully lobbying the Bank of England to put novelist Jane Austen’s image on the new £10 note, as well as British Member of Parliament Stella Creasy for supporting her.

Here are some examples of what we’re talking about:

Source: https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/363718199029682176/photo/1)

Source: https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/363721857247096832/photo/1

Some of the attackers’ real identities have now been revealed, according to MailOnline. One of the accused was reportedly unrepentant for his actions and, when asked whether he felt his behavior was “normal and made him proud,” responded “Yes, yes I do. And yes it does make me proud.”

Sadly, this example is but one of many that occur on Twitter on a regular basis. Based on recent events, a petition therefore called for the creation of a Twitter button that would make the reporting of threats and abuse easier. (It should be noted that not all experts believe such a button is an effective solution; Dr. Janet Sternberg, author of the book Misbehavior in Cyber Places, for example, has misgivings.) In response to this widespread concern about the frightening and unconscionable attacks occurring on the platform, Tony Wang, general manager of Twitter UK, stated that a list of changes would be occurring on Twitter, changes that would apply worldwide. These include an update to the Twitter Rules and in-Tweet button to report abuse (already available on the iOS Twitter app and on the mobile web, and scheduled to be available on Twitter.com in September).

Dr. Claire Hardaker, a professor of Linguistics and English Literature who studies aggression, deception, and manipulation in computer-mediated communication, says that we need to examine the root causes of such misbehavior in order to effectively deal with it. She argues that “it seems both morally and logically better to face the problem head-on. This could take the form of training and education for those amenable to change, or convictions and prison terms for those who are not.”

Education is an important part of bringing about necessary behavioral and legal changes. That’s why at CiviliNation, we take very seriously our role in helping bring about positive social change. We hope you’ll continue to support us in our efforts. And we hope you’ll consider making a contribution to the creation of the Academy for Online Conflict Management. UPDATE: The Indigogo campaign is over, but the fundraising is far from over. You can give by clicking on the big button below.

Donate Now

 

(Image: Troll Ave” by Andrés Monroy-Hernández http://www.flickr.com/photos/amonroy/2379870487)

 

 

Filed Under: Cybercivility Tagged With: Anger Management, Civility, Conflict Resolution, Cyberbullying, Cybercivility, Defamation, Reputation

Civility in America: A Nationwide Survey (2013)

July 31, 2013 by CiviliNation

Ready for this? Seventy percent of Americans believe that incivility has reached a crisis level. So reports the just- released, fourth annual Civility in America: A Nationwide Survey conducted by public relations firm Weber Shandwick and public affairs firm Powell Tate, in partnership with KRC Research.

Highlights of the study include the following:

  • Americans encounter incivility an average of 17.1 times a week, about evenly distributed between online and offline environments
  • A total of 26% of Americans have quit a job because they felt it was an uncivil work environment
  • A full 24% of Americans report they’ve personally experienced cyberbullying
    (the report notes that this is a threefold increase since 2011)
  • The majority of Americans, 70%, think the Internet encourages uncivil behavior
  • Apparently 87% of Americans said they’d be willing to take a national “civility pledge” on a national holiday such as July 4th

You can read the entire study here.

At CiviliNation, we take very seriously our role in helping bring about positive social change, such as helping people effectively participate in the online experience. We hope you’ll continue to support us in our efforts. And we hope you’ll consider making a contribution to the creation of the Academy for Online Conflict Management.  UPDATE: The Indigogo campaign is over, but the fundraising is far from over. You can give by clicking on the big button below.

Donate Now

 

Filed Under: Cybercivility Tagged With: Conflict Resolution, Cyberbullying, Cybercivility

We’ve Come A Long Way…And Still Have a Long Way To Go

July 29, 2013 by CiviliNation

The day after speaking at the Y’all Connect conference in Birmingham, Alabama, I took part in a tour of some of the amazing historical and cultural sights of Birmingham, courtesy of the conference and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. Among other things, the tour featured stops at the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Seeing where people fought for freedom and equality, and even lost their lives, was a moving and sobering experience.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the American Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, which lead up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As a society, fortunately we’ve seen great progress made in the past several decades, but it’s obvious that much still remains to be done. That’s why important events such as last year’s Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Symposium are taking place where the evolution of civil rights, how to prosecute hate crimes, and the best methods for bullying prevention and response are grappled with and discussed.

Education is a huge part of bringing about necessary behavioral and legal changes. That’s why at CiviliNation, we take very seriously our role in helping bring about positive social change. We hope you’ll continue to support us in our efforts.

And we hope you’ll consider making a contribution to the creation of the Academy for Online Conflict Management. UPDATE: The Indigogo campaign is over, but the fundraising is far from over. You can give by clicking on the big button.

Donate Now

 

(Image of Andrea Weckerle taking a photo of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, courtesy of Ike Pigott.)

 

 

Filed Under: Cybercivility Tagged With: Conflict Resolution, Freedom of Speech

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