University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Who's Watching Your Children? Value Propositions in Preteen Virtual Worlds

Nathan, Lisa P.; Meyers, Eric M.; Unsworth, Kristene

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/15345

Description

Title
Who's Watching Your Children? Value Propositions in Preteen Virtual Worlds
Author(s)
  • Nathan, Lisa P.
  • Meyers, Eric M.
  • Unsworth, Kristene
Issue Date
2009-02-08
Keyword(s)
  • Virtual worlds
  • Preteens
  • Surveillance
  • Values
Abstract
This poster presents a critical, values-oriented investigation of a specific space within the online universe: shared virtual playgrounds designed for preteens. Specifically we investigate three preteen worlds with a focus on the sites’ technical features designed to support value concerns (e.g. privacy, security, obedience) and critically examine the potential influence of these features from different stakeholder perspectives. We provide a conceptual framework for analyzing these online environments, drawing upon methods developed for investigating values and information systems. Finally, the poster will outline: 1) a field based investigation gathering designer, parent, and children’s perceptions of preteen virtual worlds, 2) a research agenda for the critical study of children’s virtual environments as value-laden artifacts, and 3) implications such work may hold for software developers, interaction designers, youth service providers, and researchers in library and information science and humancomputer interaction.
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/15345

Owning Collections

iConference 2009 Posters PRIMARY
Posters presented at the iConference 2009