RaiseWisely | Is the Social Media Ban Enough?
Description
To adults, it looks like a game. To young people, it's a society.
Modern gaming have evolved far beyond high scores and one-off sessions. Today's online gaming ecosystems have been the primary space where young people socialise, establish social status, and find belonging. Roleplaying, AI characters, and immersive worlds have created an environment where regular experiences becomes amplified.
But it comes with a cost...
When a young person's social status, identity, and peer group relies heavily on unregulated algorithmic platforms, what happens when those platforms start to harm them?
This seminar explores the complex gaming ecosystem, unpacking how these virtual worlds can foster deep engagement and a communal sense of belonging. We will explore the natures of these digital environments, as powerful spaces for youth to find belonging, while lighting up the dark alleys of the digital worlds where unregulated chat, cyberbullying, and toxic cultures poses a risk to their psychological safety.
Lineup
Dr. Susannah Emery
Susie (Susannah) (she/they, AuDHD) is a Senior Lecturer in Game Design and Digital Media, and an interactive media designer and researcher working across games, digital systems, and emerging technologies. Her practice spans video games, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), board and card games, as well as hybrid and non-game interactive experiences, including tools such as chatbots and participatory digital platforms. Susie’s research explores how interactive media and technology can communicate complex ideas across cultural and social boundaries, with a focus on fostering learning, empathy, and social change.
Christel Cherryadi
Based in South Australia, Christel is a multi-award-winning XR AI innovator and SocioTechPreneur. With 15+ years in creative technology, She pioneers responsible innovation in EdTech and Mental HealthTech, translating research into real-world impact contributing to 8 UN SDGs.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
