To fight against school bullying in France, Lydie Catalano, a former visual arts teacher, created Cathy, a chatbot that aims to provide accurate and verified information about bullying to teachers, parents and witnesses. As of September 28, a new version also includes support for victims and suspected parents.
In collaboration with psychologist Catherine Verdier, the application offers personalized resources such as emergency numbers, videos, books and online support groups. It also has a child well-being indicator, using artificial intelligence based on a question-and-answer system. It is essential to note that "Cathy" does not collect personal data to encourage free expression without fear.
“Cathy” is free because its creator considers school bullying to be a public health problem and a means of prevention. She points out that bullying often starts offline before spreading online, and "Cathy" helps parents spot the warning signs.
Lydie Catalano insists on the need to do more to eradicate this scourge, stressing that even one suicide of a bullied child per year is one tragedy too many. She calls for making the school a safe space for all students and for intensifying prevention efforts.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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27/09/2023 | 
