Tech-Education

U&G AS A PRACTICAL THEORY TO PREVENT CYBERBULLYING

 

Using communication theory such as Uses & Gratifications to solve a problem such as cyberbullying, requires real-world application. Interviews were conducted with school administrators who deal with cyberbullying on a regular basis.  The questions and discussion were based on U&G principles.  The videos on this pace show how a communicaiton theory such as U&G can and should be applied to the issue of cyberbullying among adolescents.  Here is a synopsis of what these interviews revealed:

 

• It is important for parents, teachers, school adminstrators, and students to become more aware of how adolescents utilize the myriad communicaiton technologies at their disposal each day.

• Through this enhanced awareness, teens can better understand their behaviors as it relates to their technology use.  Simply put, they can recognize moments when they may be tempted to use technology for improper reasons.

• Additionally, by consciously identifying the gratifications they hope to satisfy, they can then seek to find the healthiest form of communicaiton that will gratify that particular need.

  • For Example: Suppose a teen feels a need to boost his/her own self-esteem.  Rather than using his/her technology to bully a peer, the teen could properly evaluate other uses and select the one that will have the most impactful and healthy effect -- without coming at the expense of another.  ​