Social media is increasingly taking over our lives, and while everyone loves double taps and appreciative comments on their posts, nobody likes trolls that spew hate online. With the growth of social media, there has also been an alarming increase in the number of teenagers being bullied online. According to a report by Harford County Examiner, at least half the teenagers in the world have been victims of cyberbullying. 

WhatÂs more shocking is that only 1 in 5 cyberbullying cases get reported. David Zhao is helping the recipients through his organization that strives to spread awareness about the evils of cyberbullying and eventually bring it to a stop. 

Born in Shanghai, China, Zhao moved to the US to pursue his majors in management and computer informational sciences. Being an international student, he was harassed and picked upon for his accent. Realizing that there were many students who suffered like him, he founded End to Cyberbullying with Samuel Lam. “When adults tell you not to bully, it’s not as effective as when teens do it,” Zhao said. “The goal is to curb cyberbullying and change the attitude of people. It’s better to be an upstander than a bystander,” he added. 

An entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist, David Zhao founded his social media marketing company, More views, in 2007. Zhao is an expert in digital development and social media marketing & management and serves on the Board of Directors for many non-profits and corporations. He studied at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, while simultaneously running his business and ETCB.

End to Cyber Bullying (ETCB) aims at creating a world devoid of cyberbullying where teens can be themselves and feel safe. Zhao wants to educate teens, parents, teachers, and society about cyberbullying. Since its launch in 2012, the organization has reached out to over 2.5 million people across the world and developed a sizeable fan base on social media as well. 

Over the years, many YouTube celebrities have come forward in support of the cause. YouTubers Shane Dawson and Lisa Schwartz have partnered with ETCB by hosting a live interactive chat where viewers could donate to the cause. ÂItÂs great to see YouTubers like Lisa Schwartz and Shane Dawson leverage their network to tell people that cyberbullying isnÂt okay. ItÂs no less than a privilege to see that influencers with millions of followers support our goal of creating a social networking arena where users can feel safe, said David Zhao. 

Other YouTubers have also come forward to do their bit in spreading ETCBÂs message. With their collective power, they have made millions of people more compassionate towards victims and helped take a step towards eradicating cyberbullying. Along with focusing on ETCB, Zhao is also the CEO and founder of NXT Factor, a digital firm based in Manhattan. Zhao is using his social media expertise to help victims open up and overcome the ill effects of bullying. With the help of YouTubers and people alike, Zhao is sure that cyberbullying will eventually become a thing of the past.