BILLY BUDDY AGAINST CYBER BULLYING

Cyberbullying is a manner of online harassment that has surfaced and is increasingly getting common, even among teenagers. It is generally the deliberate act of repeatedly harassing people through digitalized platforms, mainly social media and forums, including messaging apps. Common forms include spreading harmful and damaging rumours; threats; hate speech; releasing personal or embarrassing information; and spreading derogatory contents about the victims. These behaviours often have severe psychological consequences for the victim, including diminished self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and in extreme cases, suicidal ideation. The anonymity provided by the internet often exacerbates these issues, as bullies can engage in harmful actions without facing immediate consequences. This project offers a holistic solution to cyberbullying through a digital platform that provides instant support to victims. The website, with an interactive and user-friendly chatbot called “Billy,” serves as the first line of defence. Billy offers emotional support to the victim, guides them through the process of documenting and reporting cyberbullying incidents, and ensures that important evidence is collected. The website ensures user anonymity, enabling them to submit cases of bullying anonymously. Additionally, Billy promotes the collection of key information like screenshots and chat records, which is then used to help the cyber-crime police to act accordingly. In addition to providing direct support, the website includes educational resources meant to prevent and defend against cyberbullying. These resources provide practical tips and self-defence tactics, with advice on how best to protect one’s personal information online. Users are also given the opportunity to connect with others who have suffered similar forms of bullying, allowing them to form a supportive community to share their experiences and coping strategies. It gives a sense of solidarity and empowerment to the victims and creates an opportunity for mutual support among the victims. Users will be better safeguarded with a guarantee of maintaining anonymity on this website in their reports and experiences. All of this would result in data which cannot be easily misused for malicious intentions towards victims; thereby, this entire platform seeks to raise the general awareness on dangers of cyberbullying and seek immediate access and help in affected cases as it promotes safety online.