In today’s episode of Confessions of a CyberPsychologist, I chat with Dr Maša Popovac who is a cyberpsychology researcher focussing on online risk and cyberaggression.

We talk about online safety and cyber bullying, specifically:

00:49 Her background and what got her into CyberPsychology.
03:07 The learnings from her research on young people online and the reduction of online aggression – in South Africa, the UK and in Australia.
06:49 The difference and similarities of online bullying between countries.
09:07 Advice for parents who suspect their child is experiencing online bullying
12:08 Advice for parents whose children already have a smartphone and want to retrospectively implement online boundaries – especially around safety.
15:53 The relationship between online and offline bullying amongst children.
18:57 The ideal age that is ok to give a child a mobile smartphone.
20:52 Banning mobile phones in schools.
24:31 The debate around homework being generated and engaged with online.
26:20 Advice for educators from the safety interventions developed in SA and UK schools.
29:56 Her works as a Government Advisor sharing research and recommendations for best practice.
30:55 The book chapters she’s been involved in curating on cyberaggression and cyberbullying from a practical perspective covering intervention and prevention strategies.
32:15 Her involvement at the beginning of the BPS Cyberpsychology Society.
33:28 The practical implementation of her research in online and digital citizenship at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation (https://www.alannahandmadeline.org.au....
34:42 The future of CyberPsychology and digital literacy.
36:12 The different elements that need to come together to get online safety to work.
37:08 How media is feeding into the fear of parents feeling of being overwhelmed with technology use amongst their children and the need for a more balanced approach to reporting.

Maša’s experience is in Online Safety and Cyber Aggression amongst young people.

If you have children and worried about online aggression and phones in schools, you will probably find this episode interesting.

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