Thousands of schools are turning to apps to fight bullying and violence. Do they work?

Schools across the U.S. are using apps to recognize and report threats of gun violence, mental health concerns, matters that should involve police and more.

Mass shootings, bullying, student mental health and the threat of gun violence have become increasingly bigger concerns at U.S. schools during the last two decades.

In the wake of the pandemic, which was both deeply damaging to students and forced many schools to employ new technology to teach students, more schools are turning to apps to address those problems.

A police officer speaks to eighth grade students about internet safety and cyberbullying in Stamford, Conn., last year.John Moore / Getty Images file“Technology companies during the pandemic really took a rise of presenting themselves as an app-based solution for problems in schools,” said Alexis Hancock of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

That’s perhaps expected — who doesn’t love high-tech solutions to everything? — and surprising, in that thousands of schools are telling students and parents to download and use these apps.

The notion of apps to address problems ranging from cyberbullying to mental health crises to shootings isn’t new. And Corporate America is exploring this path, too. But inside the tech departments at various schools, things seem to be taking off.