Recap on our Halloween Initiative From 2023

Recap on Our Halloween Initiative from 2023

Halloween 2023 at imabi focused on much more than just spooky costumes or pumpkins. Our “You Don’t Need A Costume To Act Like A Monster” campaign was designed to highlight behaviours that, while often overlooked, contribute to making others feel uncomfortable or unsafe. The initiative emphasised how everyday actions can turn a normal situation into an unsettling experience, with our metaphorical ‘costumes’ shining a spotlight on those behaviours.

Monsters Without Halloween Costumes

We created seven ‘costumes’ to illustrate behaviours that make public spaces less welcoming: The Groper, The Space Invader, The Shouter, The Starer, The Inappropriate Commenter, The Swearer, and The Wolf Whistler. These aren’t the typical Halloween outfits with masks or scary makeup. Instead, they represent actions many encounter daily that may not be immediately recognised as harmful but still leave a negative impact.

The goal was to show that these behaviours don’t need a special occasion like Halloween to appear. According to our research, 65% of people have felt uncomfortable due to unwanted physical contact, while 64% reported issues with others invading personal space. These actions often seem insignificant to some but can be quite distressing for those on the receiving end.

Take The Starer, for example. It’s natural to glance around, but continuous staring quickly becomes unsettling. Or look at The Space Invader. Crowded spaces aren’t uncommon, but when someone crosses into another’s personal space, it creates discomfort. Through this campaign, we used these ‘costumes’ to bring awareness to how everyday actions can feel intrusive and even intimidating.

Raising Awareness on Everyday Misbehaviour

Halloween typically involves people dressing up in fancy dress, but our campaign flipped this idea. The message focused on behaviours that occur without costumes or masks, in regular settings, by everyday people. These behaviours are not always intended to harm, but they contribute to an atmosphere where many feel vulnerable.

By using our seven ‘costumes,’ we wanted to ask a simple question: What would happen if these behaviours were as obvious as Halloween outfits? Through our campaign, we helped people recognise the subtleties in their actions or the actions of others, bringing attention to the line between harmless behaviour and something more troubling.

imabi’s Role in Creating Safer Spaces

imabi’s safeguarding platform goes beyond raising awareness. Users can anonymously report incidents through our app, helping to identify and address areas where people feel unsafe. Our technology collects these reports to build a clearer picture of which behaviours are common in certain locations, allowing us to work with authorities to find solutions.

Our Halloween initiative encouraged people to report incidents that made them uncomfortable, whether it was someone shouting aggressively or someone invading personal space on public transport. The goal was to empower individuals to make public spaces safer without direct confrontation.

Monsters don’t only show up in Halloween outfits. Our campaign was about raising awareness of everyday behaviours that have a lasting impact on those around us. Through the imabi platform, we encourage people to act when they witness behaviour that makes others feel uncomfortable.

The aim of “You Don’t Need A Costume To Act Like A Monster” was to show that respect and consideration are key to creating safer, more welcoming public spaces. To learn more about the imabi platform and our efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour, visit our website or download the imabi Community & imabi Guardian app today.