Stephanie Valentine, a Computer Science & Engineering PhD student at the TAMU Sketch Recognition Lab, conducts research pertaining to her passion for
bringing awareness to and educating youth on social media safe practices.
Valentine is the president and founder of Wired Youth Inc., a nonprofit started in June of 2014 aimed to “foster
an understanding among children and families of the permanent, public, and
context-free nature of internet communications.” Valentine's co-founders include her sister Catherine Miller and Dr. Tracy Hammond who serves as the Director of the Sketch Recognition Lab at TAMU, Valentine's graduate advisor, as well as the vice-president and treasurer of Wired Youth, Inc.
The Daily
Mail noted in 2014 that more than half of children use social media by the
age of 10. Just over 40 percent of these children using social media had
messaged a stranger by the age of 12. With these and other startling
statistics, concerning cyberbullying
and the 32 percent of children on social media who receive messages from online
strangers,
research like Valentine’s focused on teaching children safe social media skills
is gaining increased attention.
In addition to Wired Youth Inc., Valentine is also
the creator of KidGab, a social network
designed with kids in mind that is appropriate for children ages 8 – 10. These children
are young, but typically are already tech savvy and often circumvent age restrictions
on social media like Facebook on their own or with parental consent. KidGab, as
Valentine states, is a “social network with training wheels.” KidGab offers a
closed social media, where members are verified and approved by a proctor
before being able to join and interact with other members. Valentine notes that
the program “mentors kids through their first social networking experience
online, and they can come to understand what is good and what might be
inappropriate through the help of adult supervision.” Additionally, each child
user account is connected to their guardian’s, who must log in once a week to
monitor their user’s activity and allow continued participation.
Valentine created a short teaser video to showcase some the features KidGab offers, particularly
reflecting the fun and artistic expression the program allows its users.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, Valentine met
with seven Girl Scouts and their guardians in the Caldwell Civic Center to
begin an eight week trial of KidGab. She was joined by Hammond and
fellow SRL PhD student Cassandra Oduola, along with Emily Magnotta, the Program and Travel Specialist for the Bryan/College
Station branch of Girl Scouts of Central Texas. The program was supported
through joint collaboration. The TAMU Department of Computer Science and Engineering donated drawstring
bags, engineering inspired coloring books and other treats for the
participants. SRL and TAMU provided tablets for use at the event. Wired Youth Inc. supplied
the event space and necessary logistical and financial assistance. In addition,
the Girl Scouts of Central Texas provided volunteers, additional craft supplies,
and support prior to and throughout the event.
The Girl Scouts and their guardians
first participated in interactive group discussions, presentations, and crafts
pertaining to friendship, communication, cyberbullying, and online
interactions. After these activities, the families were introduced to the
KidGab software and given hands-on training on the provided tablets using the
program. In regards to the educational element being included before using the
program, Valentine says understanding the nature of friendships versus “digital
friendships,” knowing how to detect cyberbullies and online predators, and
knowing who to talk to about these issues are necessary tools for children to
learn before engaging in social media.
“Most research is aimed at what to do
once cyberbullies or predators are already present,” Valentine notes. “But kids
shouldn’t have to be uncomfortable or even in danger. I’m concerned with
education and hands-on practice to prevent these interactions from ever
happening in the first place.” Valentine compared social media usage to sports,
stating that practice is required to perfect the skill. KidGab can provide this
needed practice in a safe yet fun environment.
“Valentine is passionate about protecting kids in an online setting,” adds Magnotta of Girl Scouts of Central Texas. “Girl Scouts of Central Texas and KidGab have developed this amazing partnership and we plan to work together for a long time.”
In the future, Valentine would like to
see KidGab and projects with similar missions concerning protecting kids in
online settings incorporated into schools and children’s programs akin to Girls
Scouts across the country. For her current research, she plans to continue work
with Girl Scout troops in the Bryan/College Station, Austin, and Houston areas.
Eventually, Valentine plans to extend her research to other youth organizations
such as youth groups, sports clubs, and even school curriculums.
Jess Gantt can be reached at jessicalgantt@gmail.com.
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