In Japan, cyberbullying is a social issue that requires the immediate implementation of countermeasures. It is a form of bullying at schools that is carried out over the internet.

This study aims to

• ・collect information on the occurrence of cyberbullying^† and countermeasures against it.
• ・develop an IS that enables players to experience an interpersonal interaction process, by which occurrences of cyberbullying can be inhibited or encouraged by the people around individuals in a bullying situation (bullies and victims) such as onlookers.
• ・propose and distribute a new educational program—which includes education contents, implementation plans and methods, learning materials such as the above-mentioned original IS, and facilities—and support instructional practices with it.

Kanae Suzuki (Associate Professor, Faculty of Library, Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba)

†This project also examines bullying.