Tozi is a smartphone app developed to tackle bullying and promote online safety for children ages 11-14. Tozi content is evidence-based, drawing on behaviour change principles to promote actual anti-cyberbullying and well-being behaviour.
Tozi has been developed by Vodafone Ireland Foundation, in partnership with Dublin City University Anti-Bullying Centre and Childline by ISPCC. It is part of Vodafone’s Global Foundation ‘Apps Against Abuse’ programme.
Tozi is a space to feel good online. Tozi’s Cosmos section is packed with articles, real-life stories, videos, and audio pieces to help navigate the online world positively. Tozi covers themes like dealing with drama, staying zen, and tackling bullying. The MySpace section is a private area for journaling feelings and gratitude. Additionally, there is a direct link to Childline for 24/7 live chat or calls for support.
Tozi is available on iOS and Android.
Tozi Vision
Purpose: To create a kinder, safer and more loving digital world for young people.
Mission: We will empower and support young people in their journey to creating a positive (digital) world for themselves and their communities.
About the Anti-Bullying Centre’s Tozi team goals
The key goal of the project is to address the growing problem of online bullying in Ireland, and globally, by developing an app providing key features and benefits for children and young people which address their overall online safety and well-being. The team at ABC provides subject matter expertise and creates evidence-based content, based on the latest scientific research.
Through working on the app, the team seeks to gain key insights to inform further research in relation to children and online safety.
Esfandiari, M., S. Aşçı, S. Feijóo, M. Reynolds, C. O’Toole, J. McGarrigle, D. Heaney & J. O’Higgins Norman. (2025)
Exploring How Young People Navigate the Evolving Online World in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Misinformation
Aşçı, S., M. Reynolds, S. Basak, M. Esfandiari & J. O’Higgins Norman. (2025)
Re-Imaging Ethics and Research with Children
Feijóo, S., Sargioti, A., Sciacca, B. & McGarrigle, J. (2023).
Bystander Behaviour Online Among Young People in Ireland
Esfandiari, M., Laffan, D. A., Feijóo, S., Sciacca, B., Milosevic, T., O’Toole, C., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2025). Trends in Digital Technologies to Address Children’s Online Safety Education: A Systematic Scoping Review. International Journal of Educational Research Open
Di Manno, T, C. O’Toole, M. Esfandiari & J. O’Higgins Norman (2025). Behind the Scenes – Transforming Academic Research into Empowering Technology for Children & Young People. Poster presentation in World Anti-Bullying Forum 2025.
Esfandiari, M., M. Reynolds & J. O’Higgins Norman (2025). Rethinking School Phone Bans: Empowering Students with Media Literacy to Address School Bullying. Oral presentation in World Anti-Bullying Forum 2025.
Feijoo, S., S. Aşçı, M. Esfandiari, M. Reynolds, C. Baker, C. O’Toole, D. Heaney & J. O’Higgins Norman (2024). Exploring Young People’s Perspectives on AI-Generated Misinformation and Image Abuse: Insights from a Co-Design Approach with Adolescent Females in 15th EUSPR Conference, Sept 11-13.
Esfandiari, M., O’Toole, C. & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2024). Opportunities and Challenges of Creating an Anti-bullying Application for Children and Young People: A Case Study in Journal of Youth Studies and Centre for Youth Research & Dialogue ‘Stop the Clock’ conference, Sept 3-5.
Reynolds, M., M. Esfandiari, S. Feijóo, M Foody, et al. (2024). “They never asked us”: A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents Viewpoint on Smartphone Bans in Irish Schools in the Psychology Society of Ireland Conference 2024
Feijóo, S; Sargioti, A.; Sciacca, B.; McGarrigle, J.; Heaney, D.; & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2023). Bystander Behaviour Online among Young People in Ireland. Symposium in Current Trends in Psychology 2023
Feijóo, S., Laffan, D. A., Esfandiari, M., O’Toole, C., Di Manno, T., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2023). Let’s Play Tozi: The Online Safety and Wellbeing App for Young People. Workshop in the World Anti-Bullying Forum 2023
Laffan, D. A., Esfandiari, M., Feijóo, S., Milosevic, T., O’Toole, C., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2023). Young People’s Contributions in the Co-Design of an App to Promote Online Safety and Wellbeing. Oral presentation in the World Anti-Bullying Forum 2023
Esfandiari, M., Laffan, D. A., Feijóo, S., Milosevic, T., O’Toole, C., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2023). Digital Technologies and Children’s online safety education: A Scoping Review. Poster in the World Anti-Bullying Forum 2023
Esfandiari, M & J. Yao, (2023). ““Prevention Is Better Than Cure”: Understanding the Role of Online Privacy Literacy, Privacy Attitude, and Gender in Sharenting Behaviors.” Oral Presentation in the 73rd Annual Conference Of The International Communication Association
Laffan, D. A. , Esfandiari, M., Feijóo, S., Milosevic, T., O’Toole, C., & O’Higgins Norman, J. (2023). Young People’s Contributions in the Co-Design of an App to Promote Online Safety and Wellbeing in BPS Cyberpsychology Section Annual Conference, Jul 24-25.
Former Team Members
Derek Alan Laffan – Email: DerekAlan.Laffan@dcu.ie
Dr Sandra Sanmartín – Email: Sandra.SanmartinFeijoo@dcu.ie
Dr Maryam Esfandiari – Email: Maryan.Esfandiari@dcu.ie
UX/Content Design – Teresa Di Manno – Email: Teresa.DiManno@dcu.ie
