Tag Archives: safe

Is Australia’s Social Media Ban Effective in Keeping Teens Safe Online?

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Regulated access to social media in Australia

Anna Barclay/Getty Images

In a few months, Australian teenagers may face restrictions on social media access until they turn 16.

As the December implementation date approaches, parents and children are left uncertain about how this ban will be enforced and how online platforms will verify users’ ages.

Experts are anticipating troubling outcomes, particularly since the technology used by social media companies to determine the age of users tends to have significant inaccuracies.

From December 10th, social media giants like Instagram, Facebook, X, Reddit, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok are required to remove or deactivate any accounts for users under 16 in Australia. Failing to comply could result in fines reaching up to $49.5 million (around $32 million USD), while parents will not face penalties.

Prior to the announcement of the ban, the Australian government initiated a trial on age verification technology, which released preliminary findings for June, with a comprehensive report expected soon. This study aimed to test an age verification tool on over 1,100 students across the country, including indigenous and ethnically diverse groups.

Andrew Hammond from KJR, the consulting firm based in Canberra that led the trial, shared an anecdote illustrating the challenge at hand. One 16-year-old boy’s age was inaccurately guessed to be between 19 and 37.

“He scrunched up his face and held his breath, turning red and puffy like an angry older man,” he said. “He didn’t do anything wrong; we wanted to see how our youth would navigate these systems.”

Other technologies have also been evaluated with Australian youth, such as hand gesture analysis. “You can estimate someone’s age broadly based on their hand appearance,” Hammond explains. “While some children felt uneasy using facial recognition, they were more comfortable with hand assessments.”

The interim report indicated that age verification could be safe and technically viable; previous headlines noted that while challenges exist, 85% of subjects’ ages could be accurately estimated within an 18-month range. If a person initially verified as being over 16 is later identified as under that age, they must undergo more rigorous verification processes, including checks against government-issued IDs or parental verification.

Hammond noted that some underage users can still be detected through social media algorithms. “If you’re 16 but engage heavily with 11-year-old party content, it raises flags that the social media platform should consider, prompting further ID checks.”

Iain Corby from the London Association of Age Verification Providers, which supported the Australian trial, pointed out that no single solution exists for age verification.

The UK recently mandated age verification on sites hosting “harmful content,” including adult material. Since the regulations went into effect on July 25th, around 5 million users have been verifying their ages daily, according to Corby.

“In the UK, the requirement is for effective but not foolproof age verification,” Corby stated. “There’s a perception that technology will never be perfect, and achieving higher accuracy often requires more cumbersome processes for adults.”

Critics have raised concerns about a significant loophole: children in Australia could use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the ban by simulating locations in other nations.

Corby emphasized that social media platforms should monitor traffic from VPNs and assess user behavior to identify potential Australian minors. “There are many indicators that someone might not be in Thailand, confirming they could be in Perth,” he remarked.

Apart from how age verification will function, is this ban on social media the right approach to safeguarding teenagers from online threats? The Australian government asserted that significant measures have been implemented to protect children under 16 from the dangers associated with social media, such as exposure to inappropriate content and excessive screen time. The government believes that delaying social media access provides children with the opportunity to learn about these risks.

Various organizations and advocates aren’t fully convinced. “Social media has beneficial aspects, including educational opportunities and staying connected with friends. It’s crucial to enhance platform safety rather than impose bans that may discourage youth voices,” stated UNICEF Australia on its website.

Susan McLean, a leading cybersecurity expert in Australia, argues that the government should concentrate on harmful content and the algorithms that promote such material to children, expressing concern that AI and gaming platforms have been exempted from this ban.

“What troubles me is the emphasis on social media platforms, particularly those driven by algorithms,” she noted. “What about young people encountering harmful content on gaming platforms? Have they been overlooked in this policy?”

Lisa Given from RMIT University in Melbourne explained that the ban fails to tackle issues like online harassment and access to inappropriate content. “Parents may have a false sense of security thinking this ban fully protects their children,” she cautioned.

The rapid evolution of technology means that new platforms and tools can pose risks unless the underlying issues surrounding harmful content are addressed, she argued. “Are we caught in a cycle where new technologies arise and prompt another ban or legal adjustment?” Additionally, there are concerns that young users may be cut off from beneficial online communities and vital information.

The impact of the ban will be closely scrutinized post-implementation, with the government planning to evaluate its effects in two years. Results will be monitored by other nations interested in how these policies influence youth mental health.

“Australia is presenting the world with a unique opportunity for a controlled experiment,” stated Corby. “This is a genuine scientific inquiry that is rare to find.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

This Magnetic Safe Offers Rapid Storage for the World’s Most Dangerous Substances

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Antimatter particles are fundamentally similar to their normal matter counterparts, differing primarily in their opposite charges and momentum.

Although extremely rare, physicists routinely generate antiparticles using particle accelerators. Additionally, anti-Dutters occur naturally in high-energy processes near the event horizons of black holes.

The question of how and why the universe is predominantly made up of normal matter remains unresolved.

Creating antimatter is a complex and costly endeavor. The European Institute of Particle Physics (CERN) plays a crucial role in this process. Using an anti-proton decelerator, a proton beam strikes a metal target, resulting in the generation of anti-protons.

However, this process only yields tens of thousands of particles.

One of the significant challenges with antimatter is that when it interacts with normal matter, it vanishes instantly, releasing energy. Therefore, the task of preventing its annihilation and storing it long-term poses a substantial technical hurdle.

Nonetheless, CERN engineers are working on methods to store and transport small amounts of anti-protons.

The challenge with antimatter is that it completely disappears upon contact with normal matter, releasing energy. – Image credits: Getty Images

To achieve this, researchers cool anti-protons to approximately -269ºC (-452.2°F) to nearly halt their motion. They then contain them in a high-vacuum enclosure to avoid contact with normal matter, using superconducting magnets to trap them.

This process must be managed while maintaining the capability to extract particles and introduce new ones into the enclosure.

Despite these challenges, CERN aims to develop “traps” capable of storing billions of anti-protons simultaneously. Recent techniques have been validated by transporting regular matter across the Swiss CERN facility.

With advancements in vacuum systems, antimatter storage and transport may soon become routine activities in the upcoming year.

This article addresses the question posed by Leighton Haas of Hamburg: “How is antimatter preserved?”

We welcome your inquiries! You can email us at Question @sciencefocus.com or reach us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Please include your name and location.

Explore our ultimate Fun Facts for more amazing science content!

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Parenting Strategies: How Technology Experts Keep Their Kids Safe Online

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I As a parent, I have to admit that feeling angry about trying to limit my kids’ online activities is a common experience. Despite my efforts to control what they see, they always find ways to access restricted sites and inappropriate content. The struggle with digital parenting can create tension within the family. This is where professional advice can be helpful.

When I spoke with digital parenting coach Elizabeth Mirovidov, she emphasized the importance of parents taking a moment to breathe and start afresh. She understands the challenges parents face and acknowledges that trying to lock things down completely is not easy. With her background in technology and parenting, she brings a unique perspective to the conversation.

Experts like Luke Savage from NSPCC Children’s Safety Online highlight that parental control is a complex issue that goes beyond just setting up restrictions on devices. Each device, app, or game has its own settings, making it challenging for parents to keep up. Parental control tools are just the first step in a larger process that involves ongoing communication and dialogue with children.

Photo: Pose by a model. Hraun/Getty Images

I’ll start talking about the internet soon

Mirovidov emphasizes that the key is not to control children’s online activities out of fear but to empower them to make informed decisions. Starting these conversations early can help children develop the right skills and behaviors when navigating the online world. Becoming a digital guardian means teaching children how to act responsibly even when parents are not watching.

Setting up safety restrictions on WiFi routers is a crucial step in protecting children online. Providers offer step-by-step guides to help parents block inappropriate content and websites. However, it’s important to remember that children can still access such content through mobile data if not properly restricted on their devices.

Find out about the platform

Understanding the parental control settings on different platforms is essential. Instruction manuals are no longer the norm, so parents need to familiarize themselves with the settings on devices, apps, and games their children use. Websites like NSPCC Children’s Safety Online and Internet Matters provide guides on parental control settings for various platforms.

Please check your settings regularly

Regularly reviewing and updating parental control settings is crucial as platforms often change their settings and features. It’s important to keep communication open with children about the rules and limitations set by parents. Mutual respect and understanding can help in effectively managing online safety.

Not all screen times are bad. Photo: Pose by a model. Pekic/Getty Images

Instead of focusing solely on screen time limits, parents should consider the quality of their children’s online activities. Encouraging healthy habits like good nutrition, sufficient sleep, and academic achievement can help in balancing screen time with other activities. Understanding your child’s online behavior and interactions is key to ensuring a safe and positive digital experience.

Become a good role model

Being a good role model for children when it comes to screen time and technology usage is essential. Children learn by observing their parents’ behavior, so setting a positive example is crucial. Open communication and mutual trust can help in fostering a healthy digital environment for the whole family.

Creating fear around online risks is not the solution. Instead, parents should focus on building a strong relationship with their children based on trust and open communication. Teaching children how to be responsible digital citizens and empowering them to make informed decisions can lead to a safer online experience.

When children break the rules or try to bypass parental controls, it’s important to address the issue with understanding and communication. Punishments should be constructive and focused on helping children understand the reasons behind the rules. By engaging in dialogue and finding solutions together, parents can guide children towards responsible digital behavior.

Ask them why they need to bypass your rules. Photo: Pose by a model. Nazar Abbas Photography/Getty Images

Encouraging children to explore alternative offline activities can help create a healthy balance between online and real-world experiences. Providing opportunities for children to engage in physical and social activities outside of screens can foster a well-rounded lifestyle.

Don’t hurry and judge their content

Parents should approach their children’s online content with an open mind and avoid jumping to conclusions. Understanding the value of different online activities can help parents appreciate their children’s interests and behaviors. Engaging in conversations and learning from children’s online experiences can lead to better understanding and communication within the family.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is Your Data Safe from AI Giants? Not unless you opt out | Chris Stokel Walker

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IImagine someone driving a high-end sports car to a pub. £1.5 million Koenigsegg Regerapark and saunter out of your car to pick one at random. They come to the pub where you’re drinking, start walking around the patrons, slip their hands into their visible pockets, and smile at you as they pull out your wallet and empty it of cash and cards.

Not-so-sophisticated pickpockets will stop if you ask out loud, “What the hell are you doing?” “We apologize for the inconvenience,” says Suri. “It’s an opt-out system, dude.”

It sounds ridiculous. But this appears to be the approach the government is pursuing to appease AI companies. A consultation meeting will be held soon, Financial Times coverageThis will allow AI companies to scrape content from individuals and organizations unless they explicitly opt out of having their data used.

The AI revolution is both rapid and comprehensive. Even if you’re not one of them, 200 million people If you log on to ChatGPT every week or dabble in generative AI competitors like Claude or Gemini, you’ve undoubtedly interacted with an AI system, knowingly or not. But to keep the AI fire from burning out, we need two constantly replenishing sources. One is energy. This is why AI companies are getting into the nuclear power plant acquisition business. And the other thing is data.

Data is essential to AI systems because it helps them recreate how we interact. If the AI has any “knowledge”, which is highly disputed given that it is actually a fancy pattern matching machine, it comes from the data used to train it. .

In some studies, large-scale language models such as ChatGPT Training data is missing By 2026, that appetite will be huge. But without that data, the AI revolution could stall. Tech companies know this, which is why they license content from left, right, and center. But it has created friction, and an unofficial mantra has continued in the sector over the past decade.move fast and break things” causes no friction.

This is why they are already trying to steer us towards an opt-out approach to copyright, rather than an opt-in regime, where everything we type, post and share is locked in until we say no. It is destined to become AI training data by default. Companies must ask us to use their data. We can already see how companies are nudging us towards this reality. This week, X began notifying users of changes to its terms of service that will allow all posts to be used for the following purposes: train grokElon Musk’s AI model designed to compete with ChatGPT. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, then made similar changes, resulting in the widespread urban legend of “Goodbye Meta AI,” which purportedly invalidates legal agreements.

It’s clear why AI companies want an opt-out system. If you ask most people if they want to use something in the books they write, the music they produce, or the posts and photos they share on social networks to train an AI, they’ll probably say no. And the gears of the AI revolution will turn off. Why the government would want to enable such a change to the concept of copyright ownership that has existed to date. over 300 yearsis stipulated by law. 100 or moreit’s not so obvious. But like many things, it seems to come down to money.

The government faces lobbying from big tech companies suggesting this is a requirement for the country to be considered as a place to invest in AI innovation and share the spoils. A lobbying document prepared by Google suggests support for its approach to an opt-out copyright regime.guarantee uk In the future, it could become a competitive arena for developing and training AI models. ”So the government’s discussion of how to frame the issue, with opt-out options already on the table as a countermeasure, is a major victory for big tech lobbyists.

With so much money flowing into the tech industry and high levels of investment going into AI projects, Keir Starmer understandably doesn’t want to miss out on the potential benefits. It would be remiss of the Government not to consider how to appease the tech companies developing world-changing technology and help turn the UK into an AI powerhouse.

But this is not the answer. To be clear, the copyright system in question in the UK means that companies effectively own every post we make, every book we write, every book we create. This means it will be possible to add nicknames to songs and to our data without being penalized. That requires us to sign up to every individual service and say, “No, we don’t want you to chop up our data and spit out a poor composite image of us.” The number can number in the hundreds, from large technology companies to small research institutes.

Lest we forget, OpenAI – now Over $150 billion – The company plans to abandon its original nonprofit principles and become a for-profit company. Rather than relying on the charity of the general public, we have enough funds in our coffers to pay for our training data. Surely such companies can afford to line their pockets, not ours. So please let go.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is the world’s first battery-powered plane safe for landing?

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The arrival of human flight’s future was uneventful during a time of minimal flying in June 2020 when COVID-19 was rampant all over the world. Despite the empty skies, a significant development was taking place on the ground in a small aircraft.

The Slovenian-built two-seater plane was certified safe to fly by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). In the following years, it obtained certifications from equivalent agencies in the UK, US, and other countries. The Pipistrel Velis Electro became the world’s first fully certified electric airplane, a title it still holds today.

“This achievement showcases the growing interest and trust in electric aircraft’s reliability.” Dr. Tine Tomajic“We recently completed production of our 100th Velis Electro, a significant milestone for Pipistrel and the industry,” saidTomajic, Director of Engineering and Programs at Pipistrel.

Tomajic believes the future is already here but not equally distributed, with a focus on the development of clean aircraft. However, challenges remain regarding the alternative fuels needed for aviation and the political will required to make significant changes.

With multiple groundings behind us, could this be the turning point for green air travel, or do we still have a long way to go before achieving zero-emission flights?

Climate impacts

“Currently, aviation has a minimal impact on climate change.” Dr. Guy GluttonGratton, an associate professor at Cranfield University, is an aeronautical engineer and test pilot for experimental electric aircraft. He states that aviation contributes about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, with growing concerns about contrail emissions potentially reaching 7%.

The industry has made progress in reducing emissions per passenger mile, but the overall emissions are still rising at a rate of 5% annually. With global air travel demand expected to double by 2040, aviation risks becoming a significant polluter unless drastic measures are taken.

To address the challenges, various alternatives are being explored, including electric aircraft like the Velis Electro for short-haul flights and hydrogen fuel cells for larger planes.

More electric planes are set to take flight following the success of the Velis Electro. Companies like Israeli Aviation, Elysian Aircraft, and Wright Electric are working on developing larger electric aircraft to meet the future demands of air travel.

Gratton, who actively tests electric planes, remains cautious about considering battery-powered planes as a complete solution to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint. He emphasizes the importance of exploring various alternative fuels to address the industry’s growing emissions.

Alternative Fuel Test Flights

How will we power net-zero flights in the future using alternative fuels like biofuels, electric fuel, electric fuel cells, and hydrogen fuel cells?

Biofuels: Biofuels could be blended with traditional jet fuel to reduce emissions, but concerns about land use and deforestation remain.

Electric Fuel: Derived from atmospheric carbon and hydrogen, electric fuel is promising but requires significant renewable energy for production.

Electric Fuel Cell: Offers zero emissions during flight, but the technology needs further development and scalability.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Seen as a medium-term solution for decarbonizing aviation, but requires infrastructure redesign for effective implementation.

About our experts

Dr. Tine Tomajic: Director of Engineering and Programs at Pipistrel, an expert in electric flight.

Dr. Guy Glutton: Associate professor at Cranfield University, specializing in aviation environmental sciences and experimental electric aircraft testing.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How to Identify and Stay Safe from Human Waste in Your Local River

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Have you ever experienced this feeling before? On a blazing hot day, the desire to plunge into a cool stream of water intensifies by the minute. The water appears pristine, clear, and incredibly refreshing. However, in reality, it could be extensively contaminated.

Even the purest rivers can harbor harmful bacteria, including fecal bacteria originating from livestock manure and human waste.

In a recent announcement, the Designated bathing area in the UK, a favored holiday spot, has been a subject of concern due to issues such as being submerged in sewage and incidents of rowers contracting E. coli infections. To address these concerns, we consulted with water and sanitation expert Professor David Werner to provide essential information for safely enjoying wild swimming this summer.

Werner’s research delves into treated sewage, stormwater (untreated sewage overflows following heavy rains), and occasionally illegal sewage disposal in dry weather. These factors impact both human health and ecosystem health. While human waste is discharged into oceans, rivers tend to exhibit higher concentrations of human waste and the accompanying harmful bacteria due to lower dilution levels compared to water bodies, increasing the risk of exposure to harmful substances.

(Notably, a microbiology professor, William Gays, mentioned in BBC Science Focus that rivers have only recently been subjected to the same microbial testing as coastal waters. Moreover, wastewater discharged into the ocean is often subjected to more stringent treatment standards than rivers, including ultraviolet disinfection.)

The following guidelines mainly focus on rivers but are also relevant for coastal swimming activities.

The key takeaway? Avoid swimming after rainfall.

How do diseases enter rivers, and what is the risk of swimming in them?

Fecal contamination doesn’t always mean significant. The majority of people’s stool contains beneficial bacteria essential for our health. However, the stool of an ill individual harbors bacteria responsible for the illness, potentially leading to disease transmission.

According to Warner, the risk of contracting a disease from a river is relatively low, but it escalates if you ingest river water (discouraged but not impossible).

This can result in unpleasant symptoms like infections and diarrhea. The worst-case scenario involves acquiring antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an eventuality deemed highly improbable by Warner.

So, should one abstain from wild swimming altogether? Ultimately, it boils down to whether you are willing to accept the (generally minimal) risk for the mental health benefits, as Warner highlights.

“There is no such thing as absolute safety or zero risk,” he states. “Each time we embark on a car journey, we weigh the trip’s advantages against the accident risks. Similarly, outdoor recreation offers significant mental health perks, particularly for urban dwellers.”

How to safeguard yourself from sewage while swimming

Warner and his team are currently devising a device capable of swiftly testing water for contaminants, akin to a lateral flow corona test, though substantial research is required to materialize this concept.

Until this technology is available, several straightforward methods can help identify sewage presence while swimming in rivers this summer. Here are Warner’s recommendations:

1. Choose your spot wisely

According to Werner, it is crucial to avoid swimming downstream from a sewage treatment plant under any circumstances. While untreated sewage overflows are a common concern, treating sewage does not completely eradicate the risks; it merely diminishes them.

“Treating wastewater significantly reduces the levels of harmful bacteria, possibly by a factor of 1,000, but it doesn’t eliminate them,” Werner explains.

“Hence, if a location is situated immediately downstream of a treatment plant discharge point, one can expect a consistent presence of fecal bacteria due to the continuous discharge.”

Individuals can consult the “Poop Map” and trace their local river upstream to identify any treatment facilities along the route.

2. Check the poop map

UK organizations such as Rivers Trust and Surfers Against Sewage have developed an interactive map showcasing regular treated sewage discharges and anticipated untreated sewage overflows across the UK in 2023.

To locate a wastewater treatment plant on The Rivers Trust map, click the yellow square corresponding to your area or tap the brown circle icon, peruse the cards to pinpoint locations. The phrase “Sewage Discharge – Final/Treated Effluent – Water Companies” typically indicates a wastewater treatment facility.

The Rivers Trust’s interactive wastewater map displaying treated and untreated sewage discharge locations into UK rivers in 2023. – Image credit: Rivers Trust

This year, the charity integrated near real-time data into its maps. “This marks a significant advancement for individuals seeking real-time updates,” remarks Warner. “We strongly recommend utilizing these online resources, offering current information.”

Presently, individuals can ascertain if sewage has been discharged within the last 24 hours, albeit inland data is exclusive to designated bathing locations and rivers within the Thames Basin (Northumbrian Water also provides a County-level map while coastal regions are included).

3. Monitor the weather

Despite the allure of swimming on a sunny day, verify there hasn’t been rainfall for a few days. Swimming post-rainfall significantly heightens the possibility of encountering contaminated water due to sewer overflows and increased water release during heavy downpours.

To compound matters, even as a dry spell seems to prevail and swimming appears safe, hidden risks could lurk upstream. Thunderstorms can unleash localized rainfall, implying that upstream areas may experience heavy showers despite sunshine at your location.

4. Steer clear of small rivers

In addition to potentially turbid waters, small rivers tend to exacerbate the situation as sewage, whether treated or untreated, is less diluted in these settings.

Warner adheres to a safety benchmark stipulating that raw sewage minimal dilution should be 1,000 times for paddling and over 10,000 times for swimming. While calculating these dilution levels is not advised, the underlying principle is straightforward: “A large river with vigorous flow signifies ample dilution,” Werner asserts.

Nonetheless, disparate river segments need not cause undue concern: while one side may seem stagnant relative to the center, the water mixes uniformly.

5. Keep tabs on the paper trail

Exhibit prudence: refrain from swimming if toilet paper is visible. Alarming indicators surpass toilet paper and include wet wipes and sanitary pads crafted from plastic materials that should not be flushed but often are.

According to Werner, unlike toilet paper and human excrement, these items do not disintegrate in swiftly moving waters.

6. Stay informed

“After frolicking in the river, diligently cleanse yourself. Embrace standard personal hygiene,” stresses Werner.

About our experts

David Warner serves as a Professor of Environmental Systems Modelling at Newcastle University. Previously, his research concentrated on sanitation and water quality in low-income countries by utilizing DNA sequencing and assessing microbial hazards in rivers. During travel restrictions amid the pandemic, he shifted his focus to the UK’s rivers. His research on post-rain fecal bacteria levels has been documented in various journals such as Water Science and Technology, Comprehensive Environmental Science, and Environmental Pollution.

William Gays, a Professor of Microbiology at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health within the University of Exeter’s Medical School, conducts research published in journals like International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Food and Environmental Virology, and Water Research.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Warframe: A Safe Haven for My Son and Many Others in an Online World Full of Toxicity

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SSix months ago, my son Zach started playing a video game that I knew little about, and as a games journalist, it was a little disconcerting. Warframe is an online science fiction shooter game created by Canadian-based developer Digital Extremes and first released in 2013. Although it’s hardly talked about outside of its fanbase, it has 75 million registered users and is consistently one of his biggest titles on Steam.

Set in a far-future solar system infested with hostile alien forces, players join the side of the Tenno, an ancient warlike race whose primary weapons are barely sentient cybernetic fighters (the warframes of the title). Zack spends hours each day flying between planets, completing missions and exploring while battling enemies such as the brutal clone army known as the Grineer and the giant, disease-ridden Infested. This sounds similar to Destiny, The Division, Final Fantasy XIV Online, and a dozen other so-called live service games that run indefinitely online, with new tasks, locations, and items added all the time. However, Warframe attracted his son’s attention. He has one important reason for that. It’s a very friendly and welcoming community.

Zach is on the autism spectrum and is now 18 years old, but he still finds it difficult to socialize in the real world. He’s loved games like Minecraft and his Fortnite for years, but as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten into darker, more mature stories and worlds. When I saw that he stumbled upon this epic gothic space opera, I was concerned that it would lead him to join gaming’s less bland communities: edgelords, griefers, and Call of Duty fans. I was worried that I would be in contact with aspiring professional gamers who could turn a shooting game like this into a game. A difficult place for vulnerable people.




More friendly shooting…Warframe. Photo: Digital Extremes

But in Warframe, the experience was different. The other players were immediately friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. What helped Zack from the beginning was the game’s well-maintained and very lively on-screen chat window. This allows players to ask questions and share tips and experiences without speaking. This is a huge advantage for neurodivergent players. In-game chat is not uncommon in live service games, but this place is mostly fine with proper moderation. Other players will do their best to help Zack, helping him find rare resources such as argon crystals, and escorting him to planets they have not yet unlocked. They also gave him weapons and items. He joined the Clan a few weeks ago and has made new friends throughout the US and Europe and hangs out together regularly.

According to Digital Extremes, they realized very early in development that building and maintaining a welcoming community was essential. “The community department was one of his first departments on the team,” says his creative director Rebecca Ford. She nods in recognition when I tell her how much people have helped my son. “[The in-game chat] is a place where you can say, “I have no idea what I’m doing” or “Does anyone have any advice for this build?” Warframe is a complex, cooperative, hard science fiction world. For us, that channel was essential.”




Rebecca Ford, Creative Director at Digital Extremes. Photo: Digital Extremes

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Source: www.theguardian.com