One of New Zealand's biggest mobile phone networks says it is stepping up the fight against text bullying.
Vodafone has introduced an initiative allowing its customers to alert the network via text message about bullying.
Customers can free-text the word "bully" to 4001 to prompt an investigation.
More than 700 million text messages are sent through the Vodafone network in New Zealand each month.
Vodafone admits the messages can be used as a medium for bullying between young people.
The company hopes the initiative will encourage young people who are more comfortable sending a text than making a call to report bullying.
