Detecting and Responding to Safety Issues in Online Educational Virtual

WorldsDiego Fernando Gutierrez Aponte -- Student ID:

42577713Deborah Richards -- Supervisor

Abstract

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Children and teenagers are increasingly spending more time on virtual worlds (VW) for educational purposes and to have fun and build friendships. Online activities have some threats though and virtual worlds are not the exception. This project studies the literature of issues related to online virtual worlds, especially educational ones, and their consequences to then compare current solutions designed to detect and respond to them. Finally, some recommendations are provided to attempt approaching in a more efficient and effective way those issues and provide therefore safer educational and non-educational virtual worlds.

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Outline

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Main issues in Online Educational and Non-Educational Virtual Worlds.

Consequences Comparison of current solutions to the issues Potential technology-based solutions Conclusions

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Issues in Online Educational and Non-Educational Virtual Worlds

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Cyber bullying

Figure 1: Bullying http://www.politiquiando.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bullying.jpg

Figure 2: Cyber bullying http://aspanational.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/main_cyberbullying.jpg

Findings on Cyber bullying

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Perpetrators think they cannot be caught. Fake or real stories from the victim go public

(e.g. gossips and rumours). It may happen 24/7. Photos and videos might be more distressful

than comments. It may affect also children with special needs.

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Means and devices used for cyber bullying

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Instant Messaging IM (computers, tablets and smart phones)

Forums Chat rooms Social Networks Web pages and blogs Wikis Text Messages (SMS & MMS via any mobile

phones).

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Types of Cyber bullying

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Flaming Online Harassment or Cyber harassment Denigration Impersonation Masquerading Outing and Trickery Exclusion/Ostracism

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Cyber threats

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Figure 3: Cyberthreats (http://www.livingwellcic.com/news/youth-services/young-people-fear-safeguards-against-cyber-bullying-are-not-enough/)

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Types of cyber threats

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Direct Threat: threats that show in a clear and specific way the intention of hurting someone else or themselves and have a current plan to implement or execute it.

Distressing Material: threats where there is not a concrete plan that hints where this potential event may occur

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Cyber stalking

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Cyber stalking is indeed very similar to cyber harassment and cannot be clearly defined by some authors; however, it is suggested that cyber stalking involves much more threats than harassment.

To make this clearer, some authors suggest that cyber stalking is linked with problems in relationships.

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Consequences

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Life threatening consequences

Legal consequences

Other consequences

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Comparison of Current Solutions and Strategies

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Non-technology solutions

•Policy-based solutions•Raising Awareness•Contacting Parents and school•Promote appropriate use of technology•Activities to teach students, teachers and parents.•Supervision

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Comparison of Current Solutions

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Technology Solutions

Saving the evidenceIgnore block and/or reactRequest to the admin of the website or social network to remove offensive material.Filtering websitesMonitoring and tracking

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Comparison of Current Solutions (Technology and Non-technology solutions)

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Hybrid Solutions

FearNot! Superclubsplus project (Australia)Know IT All (KIA)

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Know IT All for Parents

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Potential technology-based solution

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Potential strategiesThe dialog agent system

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Possible Solution

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Recommendation/prototype

Ultimate Recommended Solution against Cyberbullying

Unstructured Information Management Architecture UIMA : texting analytics to detect cyber bullying.

Filtering of websites out of the educational VW unless request.

Online counsellor, such as expert psychologist on cyber bullying and its consequences.

Finally, take actions on the educational VW and further actions if necessary on the real world.

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Conclusions

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Summary and final remarksCyber bullying is as much as common than traditional bullying.Parents are not entirely aware of their children activities on virtual worlds.Governments around the world are starting to create regulations that cover cyber bullying. Technology and non-technology based-solutions are complementary to prevent, detect and respond to the issues.

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Future Work

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We acknowledge that there is a need to make more efficient and effective solutions.

Technology based-solutions may need more focus on cyber bullying rather than cover just specific aspects of e-safety.

Researchers may attempt to work on solutions for children and teenagers with special needs who might not have the same capacities to detect and respond to cyber bullying attacks. Furthermore, the solutions may need specialised multimedia material to engaged them into technological solutions advised for expert supervision.

ITEC 810 13/06/2012