Thursday 2 November 2017

Encouraging kids (and adults) to be a bit nicer on social media? Let's take a look at "Be Cool, Be Nice" - a fab journal full of awesome ideas (Studio Press)

Kids are so switched on to technology these days, and although we've resisted the parental pressure to get Charlotte a phone or tablet (so far) we know that inevitably we'll end up going down that route sooner rather than later.
The aim of the fantastic "Be Cool, Be Nice" initiative is to encourage kids and adults to embrace technology and social media with a more ethical 'duty of care' approach, and though a lot of the advice in this gorgeously presented journal might seem like common sense to most folk, it's still worth repeating in a way that immediately appeals to younger folk.

The journal comes clad in a really nicely finished black vinyl cover imprinted with a cool design from the initiative's branding.

Inside, the journal is divided into various spreads and sections, detailing different types of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

A cool graphical approach to finding the right pages and sections for each topic
The journal works in conjunction with the "Be Cool Be Nice" App, but it's also a good thing to scribble notes in if you feel like it.

Sensible advice throughout. 
Artistic and cool, it's certainly an eye-catching book and perhaps one that could be used in schools to introduce the subject of online behaviour, and address topics such as cyberbullying, sharing photographs and how to make sense of the huge and varied options available on social media.

From the accompanying press details:

Be Cool Be Nice® (BCBN) is not just a book . . . it is mandatory reading for boys and girls, men and women, and anyone with a smartphone.

Be Cool Be Nice launched with Willow Smith and Kendall Jenner on the covers of Garage magazine in an unprecedented Snapchat collaboration. Be Cool Be Nice beautifully advocates kindness, good manners and civility and encourages us all to interact and use social media in a positive way so we 'check it before we wreck it.'

"I aim to treat others as I want to be treated." -Kendall Jenner on the Be Cool Be Nice campaign

The official Be Cool Be Nice book is for people who:
Deal with drama Have experienced bullying Suffer from selfie addiction Experience Chronic Bad Attitude Syndrome (CBAS) Have goals (squad or otherwise)
Part journal, part interactive manual, and part friend, Be Cool Be Nice is as beneficial as it is beautiful. Sharing values that will last a lifetime, this book bridges the gap between adult and child and conveys a timeless message through its beautiful artwork, motivational advice, and positive affirmations. Its clever activity pages encourage the reader to reflect and learn, and the illustrations, stickers, and postcards are the work of design legends including Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Marc Newson, Pat McGrath and so many more.

This book is a starter pack for a positive life, online and offline.


Be Cool Be Nice is published by Studio Press and is out now (kindly supplied for review).