Billy - Buddy against Cyber Bullying by IRJET Journal

Billy - Buddy against Cyber Bullying

Lokesh J 1 , S. Yeswanth sai 2 , Sheetal Ramesh 3 , Veerendragouda H 4 , Dr Pakruddin B 5

1234 UG student, Dept. of Computer Science & Technology, Presidency University, Bengaluru

5 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering, Presidency University, Bengaluru

Abstract - Cyberbullyingisapervasiveissueinthedigital age,negativelyimpactingmentalhealthandwell-being.This project introduces Billy-Buddy, an AI-driven chatbot designed to combat cyberbullying by providing real-time emotional support, educational resources, and reporting toolsforvictimsandwitnesses.Utilizingadvancednatural language processing and sentiment analysis, Billy-Buddy identifiesdistresssignals,offersempatheticcommunication, andsuggestsactionablestepstomitigatebullyingincidents. Additionally, the chatbot promotes awareness and preventionthroughinteractivemodules,suchasrole-playing scenariosandeducationalgames.Byintegratingseamlessly intosocialmediaplatforms,schoolsystems,andcommunity networks, Billy-Buddy fosters a safer and more inclusive digital environment. This paper explores the technical design, ethical considerations, and impact assessment of Billy-Buddy in addressing the global challenge of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullyingisasignificantconcerninthedigitalage,with profound psychological and emotional consequences for victims.Toaddressthisissue,wepresentBilly-Buddy,anAIpowered chatbot designed as a multi-faceted solution to combat cyberbullying. The system combines advanced naturallanguageprocessing(NLP),sentimentanalysis,and machine learning to provide three core functionalities: emotional support, educational intervention, and incident reporting.

Billy-Buddy's emotional support system operates by recognizing distress signals in user interactions and respondingwithempathetic communication,personalized copingstrategies,andaccesstomentalhealthresources.Its educational module is designed to raise awareness about cyberbullying through interactive quizzes, role-playing scenarios,andtutorialstailoredforvariousagegroups.This aims to foster empathy, improve digital literacy, and empoweruserstorecognizeandrespondtocyberbullying effectively.

Key Words: Cyberbullying,AI-poweredchatbot,Emotional support, Sentiment analysis, Educational intervention Incidentreporting,Digitalliteracy,Mentalhealth

1.INTRODUCTION

Cyberbullyinghasbecomeawidespreadandurgentproblem in today's connected digital world, significantly affecting people'ssocial and mental health.TheBillyCyberbullying

Platformwasdevelopedtoaddressthisexpandingissueand givevictimsofcyberbullyingasafe,encouraging,andeasily accessible online space. By prioritising anonymity, education,andproactivesupport,theplatformfunctionsasa holistic tool to counteract online abuse and harassment whilepromotingempowermentandasenseofcommunity.

Theplatform'sconceptwasinspiredbythestartlingincrease in instances of cyberbullying, especially among the most susceptible demographics teenagers and young adults. Emotional discomfort, loneliness, and a lack of means to reportincidentsorseekassistancearecommonexperiences forvictims.Afterrealisingthesedifficulties,Billy'sfounders unitedunderthegoalofusingtechnologytoadvancesocial justice. In order to convey a warm, welcoming image and represent the platform's dedication to comfort and assistance,thename"Billy"wasselected.

The platform was created in response to a number of importantrequirements.Victimsofcyberbullyingfrequently donothaveaccesstoquickassistance,areafraidtoreport because they fear criticism or reprisals, and do not know how to deal with these situations. Additionally, a lot of peopleexperienceloneliness,whichemphasiseshowcrucial community-driven support is. Billy fills in these gaps by supplying a chatbot that offers immediate aid, allowing anonymousreporting,providinginstructionalmaterials,and establishing a secure environment where victims may interactandexchangestories.

Givingvictimstheskillsandresourcestheyneedtoregain control andconfidenceinthefaceofonlineharassment is thegoal ofthe BillyCyberbullyingPlatform.A community forum for exchanging experiences, a safe anonymous reporting system, self-defence training resources, and an easy-to-usechatbotforimmediateassistancearesomeofits primaryfeatures.Inordertoprepareuserstotakeaction, the portal also helps them navigate the legal and administrativecomplexityofreportingcybercrimes.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 01 | Jan 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Billy-Buddy's emotional support system operates by recognizing distress signals in user interactions and respondingwithempatheticcommunication,personalized copingstrategies,andaccesstomentalhealthresources.Its educational module is designed to raise awareness about cyberbullying through interactive quizzes, role-playing scenarios,andtutorialstailoredforvariousagegroups.This aims to foster empathy, improve digital literacy, and empoweruserstorecognizeandrespondtocyberbullying effectively

2. LITERATURE SURVEY

Withsomanypeopleengagingincyberbullyingonlinetoday, weareseeingnewandinnovativestrategiesforintervention prevention/education. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of chatbots with artificial intelligence to combat cyberbullying by offering real-time assistance, awareness raising, and facilitating safer online interactions. According to a comprehensive analysis of currentliterature,chatbotshavethepotentialtoofferprompt aid and personalized guidance to victims, but they face significant obstacles in terms of emotions, conversational structure,andethicalconcernslikedataprivacy.

Thisinvestigation looksatways thatchatbotscanaddress gaps in traditional support systems, building on progress madeinnaturallanguageprocessingandmachinelearning frameworks like GPT. Additionally, Additionally, the investigationlooksatwaystointegrateknowledgebasesand intent classification into chatbot functionality for more contextualanddata-driveninterventions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed a number of industries,includingeducation,healthcare,customerservice, andmentalhealthsupport,throughtheincorporationofAI into conversational systems, or chatbots. These intelligent conversational agents have shown great promise in addressing important issues, increasing awareness, and offeringreal-timesupport.Chatbotspresentanovelapproach tointervention,prevention,andeducationinthecontextof cyberbullying, a problem that is becoming moreand more prevalentinthecurrentdigitalworld.

Aspeople'srelianceondigitalcommunicationplatforms grows,cyberbullyinghassignificantlyincreasedandishaving animpactonpeople'smentalandemotionalhealth.Chatbots providequick,confidential,andobjectivehelp,whichfillsthe accessibility and anonymity gaps in traditional support systems. Previous research in this area has emphasised a number of chatbot functionalities, including as emotion recognition, natural language comprehension, and adaptabilitytoarangeofuserrequirements.Butdespitetheir potential,therearestillanumberofobstaclestoovercome, like precisely determining user emotions, adjusting to subtleties in discourse, and handling moral dilemmas like datasecurityandprivacy.

The role of family dynamics in cyberbullying has been thoroughly studied in the past, with a focus on the significance of relational and contextual factors in both victimisationandperpetration.Researchalsohighlightsthe potential of chatbots to educate kids and teens about the dangers and effects of cyberbullying. By directing young peopletowardssaferonlineinteractions,thesetechnologies mayoperateaspreventativemeasures.However,drawbacks includingpredictability,lackofnaturalconversationalflow, and inadequate language style adaptation underscore the need for more developments in AI and machine learning technology.

Furthermore,newstandardsfornaturallanguageprocessing havebeenestablishedbydevelopmentsinAImodelssuchas Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) and other cutting-edge frameworks. Their use in fields requiring empathyandcontextualawarenesshasincreasedduetotheir capacitytocomprehend,produce,andmodifylanguagethat closelyresembleshumaninteraction.Notwithstandingthese developments,researchanddevelopmentisstillongoingin areaslikelanguageassistance,real-timedataaccuracy,and ethicaldeployment.

Withanemphasisontheircapacitytoofferpromptsupport, raiseawareness,andsupportlong-termpreventativetactics, this study attempts to explore the use of chatbots in combating cyberbullying. This study aims to provide a thorough framework for incorporating chatbots into cyberbullying intervention and prevention systems by examiningcurrentchatbottechnologies,theirdrawbacks,and areas for development. It will also cover important topics includingdataprivacy,userengagement,ethicalissues,and the wider societal effects of using chatbots in delicate situations.

Inordertocreatemoreefficientandcompassionatedigital supportsystems,wehopethatthisresearchwilladdtothe expandingcorpus ofknowledge on AI-driven solutions for societalconcerns.

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Systematic Literature Review.

Description: A systematic review of existing research and scholarlyarticlestogatherinsightsontheroleofchatbotsin addressingcyberbullying.

Purpose:Toidentifytrends,challenges,andopportunitiesin the use of AI-powered conversational agents for cyberbullyinginterventionandprevention.

3.2 Analysis of AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) Capabilities.

Description: Examining the functionalities of advanced AI technologiessuchasGenerativePre-trainedTransformers (GPT)andtheirabilitytosimulatehuman-likeinteractions.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 01 | Jan 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Purpose:ToevaluatehowadvancementsinNLPcanimprove chatbot effectiveness in understanding and responding to userinputs.

3.3 Knowledge Base Integration.

Description: Analyzing the integration of structured data (e.g, knowledge bases) to enhance chatbot responses throughsemanticqueriesanddata-driveninsights.

Purpose:Toenablechatbotstoprovidemoreaccurateand contextuallyrelevantinformationduringinteractions.

3.4 Exploration of Emotion Detection Techniques.

Description: Investigating machine learning models for detecting user emotions through text to improve the chatbot's ability to offer empathetic and appropriate responses.

Purpose: To address the emotional nuances required in sensitivescenarioslikecyberbullying.

3.5 Evaluation of User Engagement and Interaction.

Description: Reviewing studies on user preferences and interaction patterns with chatbots, especially among childrenandteenagers.

Purpose: To understand how chatbots can engage users effectivelyandencouragetheiruseasasupporttool.

3.6 Ethical and Privacy Considerations.

Description:Investigatingtheethicalchallenges,suchasdata privacy,consent,andresponsibledeploymentofchatbotsin sensitiveapplications.

Purpose: To ensure the safe and ethical use of chatbots, especiallyincontextsinvolvingvulnerablepopulationslike cyberbullyingvictims.

3.7 Comparative Analysis of Chatbot Models.

Description:Comparingdifferentchatbotframeworks(e.g, ChatGPT,Bard,Llama,Ernie,andGrok)toidentifystrengths, weaknesses,andbest-fitusecases.

Purpose: To determine which chatbot models are most suitableforaddressingcyberbullyingandraisingawareness.

3.8 Proposal of a Comprehensive Framework.

Description: Synthesizing findings from the review and analysis to propose a structured framework for chatbotbasedcyberbullyinginterventions.

3.9 On Existing Methodologies:

Advantages Disadvantage

1: Chatbots are highly effective in raising awareness among children and teenagers about the different forms of bullying

1:Whileusefulforawareness, chatbots lack the sophistication to deal with complexemotionalsituations or respond to subtle

Fig 1 : Flow Chart

Fig 2 : Architecture

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 01 | Jan 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

anditsconsequences. They can engage users in educational conversations thatpromoteunderstanding ofbullyingissuesinanonthreatening,interactiveway.

2: Chatbots can streamline the reporting process by offering an easy and accessiblewayforvictimsto report bullying incidents without fear of judgment. They can facilitate anonymous reporting, helpingovercomereluctance tospeakup.

3: Chatbots offer a nonjudgmental space for children and teenagers to share their experiences, providing basic emotional support by listening and respondingtoconcerns.

4:Chatbotscanassistservice providers (psychologists, socialworkers,teachers)by managingtheinitialstagesof bullying cases and offering supplementarysupport.

indicatorsofdistress,limiting their efficacy beyond basic educationalfunctions.

casesasneeded.TheuseofAIalgorithmscouldallowforthe identificationofredflagsduringongoingconversationsand alerttheappropriateauthoritiesorcaregivers.

4.2

Multi-Language Support

2: Chatbots' accuracy and reliability in collecting sensitive data can be hindered by current limitationsinunderstanding languagenuances,especially in children’s communication styles.

3: Chatbots struggle with emotional detection and adapting responses to children's emotional states, limitingtheireffectivenessin offering deep emotional supportduringcrises.

4:Chatbotscannotreplacethe nuanced human interaction andjudgmentneededincrisis situations due to their inability to understand emotionalcomplexity.

5:Thefocusonchildrenand teenagersaddressesacritical demographic that is often under-represented in researchfocusedonadults. .

5: The exclusion of adults (teachers, parents, practitioners) limits explorationofhowchatbots could support them in intervening or providing complementary support in bullyingsituations.

It is important that the platform includes multi-language support, as this would enable it to be used by users anywhereintheworld.Throughtheuseofnaturallanguage processing(NLP)models,thechatbotcouldcommunicatein both local and global languages, enabling victims who are notEnglishspeakerstoreceivethesamelevelofsupportand guidance.

4.3 Integration with Social Media Platforms

Theplatform'sfuturedevelopmentmayinvolveintegrating it with popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Users can report cyberbullying directly to Billy via the app and website through this integration,whichwillsimplifytheprocessofguidingthem withimmediateguidance.

4.4 Gamified Educational Modules

Onlinesafety,cyberbullyingprevention,anddigitalhygiene could be improved by introducing interactive, gamified modules to younger audiences. By offering gamification features like badges, progress reports and rewards, users could be motivated to learn more about maintaining a respectful online community without losing their engagement.

4.5 Enhanced Community Features

6: AI-based chatbots have long-term potential to significantlyreducebullying prevalencebyinterveningat criticalstages.

6:Technological limitations such as predictability in responses and lack of personalization undermine thecurrentabilityofchatbots to handle the complexity of real-lifebullyingsituations.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK

Future Enhancements for the Billy Cyberbullying Platform

4.1

AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis

Byutilizingadvancedsentimentanalysistools,thechatbot couldbeabletoidentifysubtleemotionalstatesinvictims' messages.Bydoingthis,theplatformcouldoffercustomized answers and provide compassionate assistance, escalate

The inclusion of peer-to-peer support groups, moderated discussion forums, and interactive webinars in the community support section could potentially foster open dialogue and a sense of belonging among victims. These featurescouldbeusefulinconnectingvictimstootherswho haveexperiencedsimilarsituationsandofferingemotional support.

4.6 Machine Learning-Based Threat Prediction

By incorporating machine learning models that can anticipatepotentialcyberbullyingcases,theplatformcould become more resilient. Through the analysis of user interactionpatternsandreports,theplatformcanidentify vulnerableusersorgroupsandsuggestproactivemeasures or educational materials to minimize harm before it worsens.

4.7 Mobile Application Development

Theplatform'saccessibilityandusabilitywouldbeenhanced by developing a mobile application specifically for it. A mobile app that is available offline could provide victims withaccesstohelpinremoteareas,expandingtheplatform's reach.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 01 | Jan 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

4.8 Victim-Centered Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy

IntegratedVRtherapysessionsforvictimscouldcreatean immersive and therapeutic environment conducive to emotionalrecovery.Byincorporatingvirtualrealityintothe simulationofcalmingenvironments,victimscanengagein confidence-boosting exercises, relaxation techniques and even role-playing activities to restore their lost sense of controlandconfidence.

4.9 Working with Law Enforcement and NGOs

It is possible that establishing an efficient communication channel between the platform, law enforcement agencies andNGOscouldenhanceitsabilitytohandledifficultcases. Theprovisionofanonymousincidentdetailstoauthorized organizationscouldfacilitatefasterandmorecoordinated responsetocybercrimeincidents.

4.10 Recurrent Community surveys and feedback integration

A feedback mechanism could be implemented, enabling userstosharetheirexperiencesandsuggestionsforongoing enhancement.Thiswouldensurecontinuousimprovement. The platform could be able to adapt and keep pace with changing user preferences due to frequent community surveysthatprovideinsightintonewcyberbullyingtrends.

4.11 Blockchain for Secure Reporting

Theuseofblockchainstostoreandmanagecyberbullying reports could lead to improved data security and transparency.Throughblockchaintechnology,casescould be passed on to authorities without any suspicion of manipulationorbreaches.

4.12 Corporate and Educational Partnerships

Theplatform,andpossiblybyworkingwithcompaniesand schools to expand its reach and influence. Schools could workwiththeplatformtointegrateitintodigitallearning environments, while corporations could collaborate on workplaceharassmentpreventionandmitigation.

4.13 Subscription-Based Therapy Services

Byofferingsubscriptionservicesasameansforvictimsto accessprofessionaltherapy,theycouldprovideemotional andpsychologicalsupportforlife.

5.REFERENCES

1).(ByLauraIseutLafranceSt-Martin&StéphaneVilleneuve :Article:2312032|Received18Aug2023,Accepted25Jan 2024,Publishedonline:09Feb2024)

Link:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/233 1186X.2024.2312032#d1e189

2).(ByLauraIseutLafranceSt-Martin&StéphaneVilleneuve :Article:2312032|Received18Aug2023,Accepted25Jan 2024, Published online: 09 Feb 2024) Link:https://www.mdpi.com/2840336

3). (By Ketmanto Wangsa ,Shakir Karim ,Ergun Gide , MahmoudElkhodr:Submissionreceived:23May2024/ Revised: 13 June 2024 / Accepted: 20 June 2024 / Published:22June2024) Link:https://www.mdpi.com/1450890

4). By Leticia López-Castro & Diana Priegue : Submission received: 31 January 2019 / Revised: 11 March 2019 / Accepted:11March2019/Published:15March2019) Link:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/3/98.

5). Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. WSchroeder, A. N., & Lattanner,M.R. (2014).BullyingintheDigitalAge:ACritical ReviewandMeta-AnalysisofCyberbullyingResearchAmong Youth.

Journal:PsychologicalBulletin. link:https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0 035618

6)Livingstone,S.,&Smith,P.K.(2014). Annual Research Review: Harm Experienced by Children ThroughOnlineandOfflineBullying. Journal:JournalofChildPsychologyandPsychiatry. link:https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111 /jcpp.12197

7).Patchin,J.W.,&Hinduja,S.(2015). MeasuringCyberbullying:ImplicationsforResearch. Journal:AggressionandViolentBehavior. link:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii /S1359178915000188

8). Hosseini, H., Kannan, S., Zhang, B., & Poovendran, R. (2017).

DeceivingGoogle'sPerspectiveAPIBuiltforDetectingToxic Comments.

Journal:arXivpreprint. link:https://arxiv.org/abs/1702.08138

9). Hinduja,S.,&Patchin,J.W.(2013). SocialInfluencesonCyberbullyingBehaviorsAmongMiddle andHighSchoolStudents. Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence. link:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-0129902-4

10). Salawu,S.,He,Y.,&Lumsden,J.(2017)Approachesto AutomatedDetectionofCyberbullying:ASurvey. Journal:IEEETransactionsonAffectiveComputing. link:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8026197