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How to prevent cyberbullying with technology



Who is at risk and what you can do

How to prevent cyberbullying with technology

Masters in Data Science have shared valuable tips for parents and kids about cyberbullying with in hopes of keeping our kids safer in this technical world.

Cyberbullying is becoming more prevalent among children and teens, as young people now spend more time on phones, computers and digital devices. About 6 in 10 teens have been bullied or harassed online, according to Pew Research Center. Cyberbullying can occur via social media, text, email, instant messages and gaming platforms. It also frequently happens anonymously, making it even more difficult to address and prevent. 

Yet the consequences of cyberbullying are serious: a recent study published in the medical journal Pediatrics found that several online risks factors, including cyberbullying, were associated with higher suicide-related behavior in young people. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 18 years in the U.S., with rates increasing nearly 62% from 1999 to 2018.


Examples of Cyberbullying and Who Is at Risk
Cyberbullying can be hard to pin down, since some young people may not consider name-calling or other common behaviors bullying. Also, some may be reluctant to report being bullied online, due to embarrassment or fear of repercussions. 

According to data published in October 2021 by the Cyberbullying Research Center, cyberbullying tends to peak at around 14 to 15 years old. Research on the relationship between gender and cyberbullying has been inconclusive, however, transgender teens report a higher incidence of cyberbullying. Males are more likely to be the perpetrators of cyberbullying.

How Can Artificial Intelligence Combat Cyberbullying?
The TechTalks blog reports that AI is being used to address bullying and offensive content online, taking the burden off of human moderators. Specifically, social media companies are using machine learning, or software that learns from examples. Many companies are creating and training algorithms to detect hate speech and abusive language online. 

How to Address Cyberbullying
While technology shows promise in helping to combat cyberbullying, there are many things young people, parents and teachers can do to address the problem as well.

Read the full article here.



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