11–13 Jun 2025
Stavanger Forum
Europe/Oslo timezone
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Behind the Scenes - Transforming Academic Research into Empowering Technology for Children & Young People

13 Jun 2025, 12:15
1h
Stavanger Forum

Stavanger Forum

Gunnar Warebergsgate 13 4021 Stavanger
Poster Proactive strategies and prevention of bullying and cyberbullying Room: Mastrafjorden B

Speaker

Ms Teresa Di Manno (Dublin City University - Anti-Bullying Centre)

Description

In today’s digital world, children and young people face a constant stream of information, often without the skills to navigate it safely, critically and with resilience. Tozi is a non-commercial, free-to-download mobile app, developed by DCU Anti-Bullying Centre in collaboration with Vodafone Foundation Ireland and Childline by ISPCC.

Tozi aims to speak to audiences aged 11-14 to enhance their digital literacy skills on critical issues and help them make informed decisions online. Rooted in academic research from psychologists, sociologists, and educators, Tozi translates complex insights into engaging, age-appropriate content tackling key issues such as online bullying, privacy, reporting and digital consent.

Our interdisciplinary approach has transformed science-backed evidence into consumable content to support/empower a positive digital experience for children and young people online. Through a careful design process, Tozi minimises excessive gamification, focusing instead on interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, and practical tips to enhance learning and keep young users engaged without compromising the ethos of the app.

Our real-time content publishing system allows us to update trending topics, setting us apart in the current landscape of cyberbullying prevention apps.

As Tozi prepares for expansion into new markets such as Spain and Portugal, amongst others, we are excited to explore cross-cultural insights and adapt content to diverse digital landscapes. With a mission to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world digital experiences, Tozi is designed to empower digital resilience and literacy among young people worldwide, equipping them to navigate the complexities of online life with confidence.

Keywords

youth, online safety, mobile app, Tozi app, digital literacy, successes, challenges, Anti-Bullying, Information navigation

Please also indicate what kind of contribution it is: Mixed
Please indicate what type of scientific contribution it is Not applicable

Primary authors

Ms Teresa Di Manno (Dublin City University - Anti-Bullying Centre) Carol O'Toole (DCU Anti-Bullying Centre) James O'HIGGINS NORMAN (Anti-Bullying Centre, Dublin City University) Maryam Esfandiari (Dublin City University Anti-Bullying Centre)

Presentation materials

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