In a move to bolster the safety of students within its digital corridors, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has approved a new defense mechanism against online threats and abuse. The district-wide adoption of the content monitoring service "Bark" was designed to enhance the detection of potential dangers lurking in students' online activities. The technology will serve as a watchdog for cyberbullying, threats, self-harm signals, and the surfacing of explicit images.
Under the newly approved contract, Bark's artificial intelligence algorithms will integrate into the district's Microsoft 365 environment, monitoring student interactions across email, OneDrive, and chat features. When alerted by Bark's AI system, MNPS leaders will assess whether to involve parents or law enforcement. "I think in this day and age it’s essential we work as partners. We definitely need as many eyes on our kids as possible," said Katey McPherson, associated with Bark for Schools. She emphasized the importance of this technology in safeguarding the student body, as reported by WSMV.
Artificial intelligence continues to embed itself into various aspects of daily life, and now, in a departure from the mainstream application, MNPS is directing these intelligent systems to pre-empt and flag any signs of online threat or harassment among students. According to a report by WKRN, McPherson noted, "It's just an extra level of protection," detailing how prior tragedies such as those in Oxford, Parkland, and Uvalde involved premediated plans shared on social media that went unreported.
McPherson also discussed the critical role of AI technology in schools, emphasizing that it acts as a vigilant assistant, performing tasks faster than humanly possible. "Any tool that we have that can catch safety issues faster than humans can I think is a really powerful testimony to what AI can do for good," she told WSMV. The utilization of such advanced technology signals a growing trend where educational institutions are employing cutting-edge tools to create safer environments for students, sometimes before any human has perceived a risk.
