Bullying in the Tech Age: How Technology is Used to Take a Stand against an Issue it also Amplifies

1. Is the goal to create a culture of supportiveness, empowerment, and positivity among adolescents?

1.1. Is the goal to monitor how adolescents use technology and actively prevent bullying from taking place?

2. How can I gain further insight into the bullying epidemic?

2.1. talking to students at different grade levels

2.2. talking to parents

2.2.1. talking to teachers

2.3. joining anti-bullying Facebook groups

2.4. reading anti-bullying blogs and message boards

2.5. observation of social platforms

2.6. media (documentaries, films, television series)

3. Are online resources effective? Do they create issues of their own?

3.1. Who creates the resources?

3.1.1. Who measures the impact of anti-bullying efforts?

3.2. Who uses the resources?

3.2.1. Is there a way technology can be utilized to combat bullying in a new, more effective way than current efforts?

3.2.1.1. video game idea: Positive Force

3.3. Who decides what constitutes online bullying or harassment?

3.3.1. Who controls what people can post on online platforms?

4. How does technology intensify the issue of bullying?

4.1. the variety of platforms on which bullying can take place

4.2. lack of monitoring by adults

4.3. bullying is no longer an issue isolated to schools: it can take place anywhere, anytime

4.3.1. Those who bully online cannot see the physical reaction of their target (facial expression, etc.), which promotes a lack of empathy

4.4. potentially dangerous media portrayals

5. Motivations Behind Topic

5.1. concern for future children

5.1.1. personal experience with bullying

5.2. volunteer work as crisis chat specialist

6. Technologies Bullies Use

6.1. social media (Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat)

6.1.1. comment features on posts or photos/videos

6.2. messaging tools (text, direct message)

6.2.1. video-sharing sites

7. Resources Made Available by Technology

7.1. social groups devoted to bullying prevention

7.1.1. educational resources

7.1.1.1. parent resources

7.2. support communities or chat rooms

7.2.1. anti-bullying websites, apps, campaigns, videos

7.3. ImageVision

7.3.1. bark.us