UMBY Academics Develop Early Detection Innovation for Cyberbullying
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - A team of academics from Mercu Buana Yogyakarta University (UMBY) has developed the Bully Buster application, a technological innovation for digital protection aimed at the early detection of cyberbullying indications within school environments.
“The Bully Buster application serves as a solution based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to provide early detection of cyberbullying indications in schools,” said the innovator, Putri Taqwa Prasetyaningrum, in Yogyakarta on Monday.
The innovation, conceived by a multi-disciplinary UMBY team consisting of Putri Taqwa Prasetyaningrum, Eka Aryani, and Abdul Hadi, integrates the fields of information technology with guidance and counselling.
“In addition to detecting dangerous communication patterns, Bully Buster is equipped with an anonymous reporting system, a monitoring dashboard for counsellors, and even virtual reality-based therapy support. This approach maintains the roles of teachers, counsellors, and parents as the primary keys to supporting victims,” she stated.
According to her, the application features several key functions, such as message analysis using AI and NLP, an anonymous reporting system, a monitoring dashboard for teachers or counsellors, and virtual reality-based therapy support.
She explained that AI and NLP technologies are used to recognise words, sentences, or communication patterns containing elements of insults, threats, verbal harassment, and hate speech.
“When the system finds indications of bullying, this information can serve as an early warning for the relevant authorities to conduct investigations and follow-up actions,” she said.
She added that the anonymous reporting system also provides a safer space for students to report their bullying experiences without fear of pressure or retaliation from perpetrators.
“Furthermore, guidance and counselling teachers can monitor reports through the dashboard and determine the appropriate form of assistance,” she said.
She noted that this innovation was introduced alongside the downstreaming of a local herbal product, specifically a processed white turmeric product, during the Yogyakarta Science and Technology Seminar (SSTY) held recently.
UMBY researcher Prof. Dwiyati Pujim_ulyani stated that the development of white turmeric is a form of downstreaming university research, where local natural wealth is not only studied academically but also developed into value-added products for community use.
“We want to demonstrate that local natural ingredients have great potential when researched and developed through a scientific approach. It is hoped that the white turmeric innovation can benefit public health while encouraging the growth of superior regional products,” she said.
Through these flagship innovations—a collaboration between mental health protection in digital spaces and the strengthening of physical health based on local wisdom—UMBY is taking concrete steps to support the creation of a healthy, safe, and competitive younger generation in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).