Disclosure-Based Cyberbullying Support App: Victims' Psychological Well-Being, Awareness, and Support Through Counseling

Cyberbullying has significant psychological implications, including increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Despite these implications, there is a lack of real-time, accessible mechanisms that support victims, particularly young adults. This study developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a progressive web application that connects victims with certified professionals, e.g., guidance counselors, to seek psychological support. The app offers informational resources, such as videos and testimonials on prevention, intervention, and support, to educate and increase awareness among victims. The study was carried out over a 3-month longitudinal period from April 14 to July 14, 2024, with 286 young adults, most of whom were victims aged 18-34 from two higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: (a) experimental group (the group that used the app), (b) control group (the group that did not use the app). Our findings demonstrate the app's effectiveness in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress, increasing awareness, and a slight improvement in perceived support among participants in the experimental group. We discuss policy implications for integrating this application into educational frameworks and curricula development.