Volume 15, Number 6

Developing a Digital Tool for Raising Awareness of Mobile Bullying

  Authors

Portia Mathimbi^1,2, ¹University of Cape Town, South Africa, ²University of South Africa, South Africa

  Abstract

It is common for social scientists to consider building awareness interventions when faced with a social issue. The aim of which is to share knowledge about the issue at hand and inform society about the dangers, and possible responses. For example, raising awareness of healthy eating, including the benefits thereof and the dangers of lifestyle diseases. Or for raising awareness of information security, including the safe use of information technology resources about the dangers of technology abuse. One of the information security issues at hand is the bullying that takes place on mobile devices (mobile bullying), which has been increasing in recent years, especially among adolescents. The problem with mobile bullying is that it has severe consequences such as suicide and mental health difficulties. Despite current interventions, mobile bullying remains on the rise. The current study followed the design science research process to develop a digital artefact in the form of a chatbot to raise awareness of the mobile bullying social issue. The findings of this study reveal that information systems artefacts such as chatbots make awareness possible because they are easy to use, accessible to mobile device users, and allow for one-onone confidential conversations with the users in the privacy of their mobile devices. The use of a chatbot is also scalable and makes it easy to reach a large audience through mass communication of awareness messages. The conversational element allows the users to direct the conversation, as opposed to it being push notifications.

  Keywords

Artefact development, awareness intervention, cyberbullying, technology abuse, design science.