APPLES Reflection

Cyberland is a cyberbullying-pervention mobile application we are continuing progress on. This application is being created in association with our client – Eyüp Sabir Erbiçer. Eyüp is a PhD canidate at Hacettepe University and a visiting scholar in the Department of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cyberland aims to teach adolescents about cyberbullying and cyberbullying-prevention techniques to students in the United States and Turkey in hopes of lowering cyberbullying rates in both countries. Currently, there is already a similar cyberbullying-pervention application released in Turkey, that Eyüp had assisted in the creation of. Cyberbullying in the United States has emerged as a pressing issue, particularly among adolescents and teenagers, due to the ubiquity of digital communication platforms. Defined as the use of electronic means to harass, intimidate, or harm individuals, cyberbullying takes various forms, including harassment, impersonation, and spreading false information. Its effects on victims are profound, encompassing mental health issues, social withdrawal, and academic difficulties. Efforts to combat cyberbullying involve legal measures, school policies, and technological interventions goal is to be able to provide not just another technological intervention, but a fun way to assist in the prevention of cyberbullying. Our application will encourage adolescents to learn more about cyberbullying techniques, as well as prevention strategies to protect themselves and their peers.