HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	180
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE CYBER HARASSMENT AND CYBERBULLYING AWARENESS DAY ON JUNE 21, 2024.

WHEREAS, a significant rise in cyber harassment and cyberbullying has occurred in the last ten years as a result of national and international internet usage increasing exponentially; and

WHEREAS, the Pew Research Center found that forty-one percent of Americans have experienced some form of cyber harassment, including physical threats, stalking, sustained harassment, sexual harassment, offensive name-calling, and purposeful embarrassment; and

WHEREAS, online harassment related to political views has increased over time, with twenty percent of Americans reporting experiencing online harassment because of their political views in 2020, compared to fourteen percent in 2017; and

WHEREAS, women and minority groups are more likely to be targets of cyber harassment as a result of their racial and gender identity; and

WHEREAS, seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that social media companies are doing either a poor or fair job of addressing cyber harassment complaints; and

WHEREAS, The Cybersmile Foundation launched a Stop Cyberbullying Day in 2012 that has continued to be recognized on the third Friday of June each year; this year, that day lands on June 21, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the State has not adequately addressed the growing issue of cyber harassment and cyberbullying; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is requested to declare Cyber Harassment and Cyberbullying Awareness Day on June 21, 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Report Title:

Cyber Harassment; Cyberbullying