Use a New IEEE Standard to Design a Safer Digital World For Kids
Efforts to protect the online privacy and rights of young people using digital technologies are emerging as social media and other online products and services aimed at attracting children and teens are proliferating. One of those efforts is the Society Policy Engineering Collective, directed by Katina Michael, a professor in the Fulton Schools and ASU’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Michael has been working with colleagues in those schools who are involved in the collective, and with fellow members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE, on industry and community design standards for digital technologies and services used by youngsters. Michael, an IEEE senior member, is also chair of the organization’s standards working group. The group has developed guidelines for building age-appropriate products for youngsters that will address potential risks of digital and online services before they are deployed and will put concerns for children ahead of commercial interests.