Acceptability of Chatbot Support for Older Adolescents Involved in Cyberbullying

Abstract

Chatbots may be effective tools to address cyberbullying among adolescents, but little research assesses their acceptability. To address this gap, we conducted 12 focus groups with U.S. adolescents (15-18 year-olds) to determine the acceptability of a hypothetical chatbot providing support for adolescents experiencing cyberbullying. We conducted qualitative content analysis using categories from the theoretical framework for acceptability. We find adolescents generally described the chatbot as acceptable, with the idea of such an intervention conjuring positive affect and expectations that it would be effective for perpetrators and victims and reduce the burden for seeking help. However, we also find evidence adolescents would hesitate to use such a chatbot due to ethical concerns, including whether the financial interests of the chatbot developers align with the wellbeing interests of adolescents. Chatbot-driven interventions for cyberbullying appear acceptable to adolescents, but it will be important that they be developed to prioritize wellbeing over other interests.