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We created reword, a spell checker for online bullying. As a child types, reword uses regex matching, searching a database of bullying words to identify patterns. When a pattern is recognised from millions of potential combinations, the child is instantly alerted with a red strikethrough.

Reword is designed to interrupt bullying behaviour in young people when they first become active on social media. The red line is an intuitive symbol that encourages children to reconsider what they write.

Children can become co-authors of reword by adding their own bullying words and phrases, growing the tool’s intelligence and helping it recognize evolving language and slang.

Reword is designed to help develop young people’s moral compass, creating a new generation that respects each other – online and in real life.

We built a Javascript tool and lexicon database that identifies patterns using syntax theory. As a child types, the database is traversed and insult patterns are identified – activating the red line and alerting the user. Reword seamlessly integrates across all social, email and messaging platforms, without needing the provider’s permission.

After successfully piloting in two schools, we launched our in-school program and made reword available online as a free Google Chrome extension. We supported the launch with an integrated media strategy across outdoor, print, TV, display, social media and extensive PR. Via the in-school program and social, children were invited to co-author the insult database.

Reword has been installed on 150,000 computers and introduced to over 260 schools across Australia. Headspace is committed to implementing reword in all Australian schools – while parents now have something they can install at home, stopping their children from becoming bullies.