Issues of school-related violence, bullying and self-harm are not new. But they are becoming increasingly pervasive in the U.S. educational system.
According to the 2024 National Center for Education Statistics’ “School Survey on Crime and Safety” report, 67% of U.S. public schools reported having at least one violent incident in the 2021-22 school year. Among middle schools, 37% reported cyberbullying on or off campus at least once a week.
In response, more schools are seeking out tech-forward innovations to enhance traditional methods of monitoring and intervention. Search interest for Securly, an ed-tech student-safety platform, recently increased by approximately 350% over a 30-day period between July 15 and August 15 on Google Trends. Securly is among an emerging cohort of companies, including Centegix, Raptor Technologies and Everbridge, that offer technology solutions with the goal of creating safer learning environments.
Elyse Thulin, Ph.D., a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, understands why technology is driving the $3 billion school safety market. “We’re in an exciting age of innovation, particularly with advances like generative AI,” she notes. “Schools are eager to better understand how to integrate technology and leverage its benefits while mitigating its challenges. There’s also the generational aspect of today’s students being digital natives. Many safety issues occur within technologies—think of cyberbullying or young people expressing their distress through social media or direct messaging.”