We are thrilled to announce that findings from Cybersmile research around Gen Z and social media have been presented at the NASP Annual Convention in Chicago. Hosted by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the convention is the largest professional conference in the United States dedicated to school psychology.
Dr. Rapp, Dr. Fredrick, and Ms. Rourk from the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, SUNY presented on "Who Notices Bias-Based Harassment Online: Experiences of U.S. Generation Z" during a 90-minute poster session. Poster sessions allow presenters to share a visual summary of their research study and discuss findings in an informal, interactive setting.
It is a huge honor to have contributed to such an important event. Understanding bystander experiences is a crucial part of building healthy online environments. We are extremely grateful to the team at University of Buffalo for their hard work bringing this important research to life.
Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation
The study examines which social and demographic groups of U.S. adolescents and young adults are most likely to notice bias-based online harassment related to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
The presentation learning objectives included:
- Understand how social identities might influence whether adolescents and young adults notice bias-based online harassment.
- Explore how political views intersect with gender, race, and sexual orientation to shape Generation Z's awareness of bias-based online harassment.
- Discuss the importance of the "noticing" step in the bystander intervention model and how it can be supported through educational strategies in schools.
Presenters and contributors include:
- Hannah Rapp, Postdoctoral Associate, Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Stephanie Fredrick, Associate Director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Savannah Rourk, Graduate Assistant and Schomburg Fellow, Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, University at Buffalo, SUNY
- Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation
- Dan M Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation
The NASP convention typically draws over 5,000 attendees each year from across the United States, and it is held annually in different cities in the U.S. Participants include individuals from a wide range of areas within school psychology, including practitioners and administrators working in school districts, university faculty and researchers, school psychology graduate students, and representatives from assessment and test development companies.
The multi-day conference features research presentations, workshops, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and poster sessions that highlight new findings and evidence-based practices related to topics such as assessment, intervention, bullying prevention, and school mental health.
The convention also provides opportunities for professional networking and collaboration, allowing attendees to share knowledge and strategies that can be implemented to improve student well-being and learning outcomes in schools.