"I’m convinced they hate us," says Luke Richey, co-founder of Gravity Jack, referring to gaming giants like Roblox and Fortnite - companies he believes knowingly endanger children for profit. His wife and co-founder, Jennifer Richey, adds that 63% of human trafficking involving Gen A and Gen Z now originates through gaming platforms. In 2023 alone, Roblox reported over 13,000 child exploitation incidents - a figure they admit is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe it’s not hate, but indifference that leads kids to trafficking and suicide feels like total disregard for human life. Luke, one of the pioneers of augmented reality for Pokémon Go, recalls how early AR games helped lower suicide rates as kids went outside and connected in real life. But instead of building on that positive impact, many gaming companies adopted Big Tech’s “engagement at all costs” model, prioritizing time spent and revenue over safety. Now, we're left with games and chat platforms rife with violence, profanity, and harm. It’s a grim reality that Gravity Jack is determined to change. As Jennifer and Luke build safer alternatives, they offer three key guidelines for parents: No chat is safe without live, active moderation (something they’re actively developing). If a game is “freemium” with in-app purchases, it’s likely predatory.Play the game yourself before letting your child in. Resource: Family Gaming Database In this episode, we dive into virtual reality, AI's role in gaming, and more. Don’t miss this vital conversation with Jennifer, Luke, and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death. Connect with Jen & Luke at Gravity Jack. About Jen & Luke Jennifer Richey is a tech entrepreneur, strategist, and co-founder of Gravity Jack, where she helps brands like Ford, Intel, and NASA create cutting-edge augmented and virtual reality experiences. With over a decade of leadership in emerging technologies, Jennifer is passionate about innovation, storytelling, and building solutions that connect people in new ways. She also holds multiple patents in the AR space. Outside of work, Jennifer is a wife, mom, and proud grandma to three amazing grandchildren. She believes the best innovations come from a life filled with family, adventure, and a bit of fearless creativity. Luke Richey is a veteran entrepreneur, technologist, and innovator. He began coding at 14, including early work with NASA, and went on to co-found multiple successful startups, including OpenEye (acquired by Alarm.com). As co-founder of Gravity Jack, he helped pioneer augmented reality and AI applications for Fortune 500 companies and major game brands like Pokémon GO and World of Tanks. With over two decades of experience and multiple exits, Luke now focuses on building new technologies that connect and empower the next generation.
