Cyber Synapse Podcast Catherine Knibbs

Today is a discussion with a friend and colleague in the space of child sexual abuse online where we once again take a look at the approaches used in the removal of this kind of material to protect children online.



The discussion take us on a broad approach to the reporting of, classifications of child sexual abuse, or exploitation, platform violations, adult sexual material, nudes, cartoon versions and the who, what and how of the way in which social media and other websites are removing these images, videos and other types of material.



Andy is great at explaining what parents and professionals working with children can keep their eyes and ears open to, having worked in/for social media companies in the past and has over 20 years of law enforcement experience in this domain.



We discuss 'that question' relating to banning, removing, delaying and more and have a long conversation bout the actual pragmatics about why we think this is wont work on a global level given that this is where the internet is. We consider the approaches of many of the internet safety spaces and what is being said in the realms of trust and safety and what the risks and dangers really are.

No spoilers but please do listen to this section if you have been led to believe that a ban or delay is the solution to a problem that is much more complicated than a simple 'don't' approach. Why parents are not aware of the technical issue at a tech, industry and government level.



We do talk about the great work that social media channels are taking to address some of the issues that are being discussed in todays session, and we put out a plea to the whole of the industries and techn companies to come together in a way that allows us to address the societal issues.



We (and I most certainly say wholeheartedly) duly request that we put the children and vulnerable in the centre of our conversations with the interest of the children and vulnerable as the main focus of the conversation.



For me the last 10-15 mins of this conversation are perhaps the most important in the whole sector of keeping children and vulnerable people safe online.

THIS episode is soooo exciting; I love being able to tell people about tech that is positive and this episode explains when gaming gets to the heart of helping people and helping them help themselves. This is gaming for good, WRIT LARGE!

Meet Ryan Douglas, he is the founder and therapy designer who has been in this space for a long time and explains here about working with DeepWell DTx who bring you the game called Zengence in VR!!! (insert happy dance emote).

I cannot stress enough how exciting the game is, what is has been designed for and how this is really really crafted to meet the needs of people who need games like this. The game has elements of physiological movement, breathing, rhythm and yep, accuracy and the fun part of an action game.

Ryan explains about the science behind this game and the exciting part of why this game is so good at achieving what it sets out to do.

I am going to be using this in therapy sessions, and personally and I get to show this off to a very large bunch of professionals this very weekend (at the time of episode launch)

Go buy the game on the Oculus Q2 Q3 and its available NOW!!

In todays "uncomfortable" for some people, conversation i am joined by two of my favourite colleagues in the space of Psychosexual Therapy, Sexology and the world of relationships. We have been discussing many of the issues on todays episode for a number of years, so I decided to record our conversation to bring you what "really" happens in a sex therapy session [contrary to the people who do not practice ethically, or lawfully but thats not today conversation but could be another episode soon].

We discuss shame and the current narratives around porn which often prevent people discussing this. Why sex is not all bad, why we need to have an open mind (and ears) to the qualifiers of SOME people, SOME of the time have a problem with porn, sex and relationships BUT NOT ALL people will become dependent on it. We discuss how the finger pointing at sex and porn leaves young people with little knowledge about what sex is and so porn might just be the way they learn. We discuss the positive side of porn, yes there are positives which are about allowing people to explore their own bodies. We discuss shame, attachment injuries and how we protect ourselves by engaging in behaviours that are there to help us self soothe.

How Masturbation has been demonised by the grown ups with frightening and scary shame based narratives which result in terrified children. We talk about "anti masturbation" organisations,
we deconstruct the myths of touching versus 'outcome' and why this is often attributed to the addictive nomenclature, which we then talk about as an aetiology of harm to clients when used as a 'stick with which to bash them' . We cover so many topics, in depth (oh la la) and with many years of working in the space of psychosexual issues.

NOTE: the sexual offending pathway research looks at differing routes to harm and I am aware of the correlation between problematic use of porn and offending and that is not discussed today. the reflection on THE pathway is relevant to those of you listening and watching who are not offenders and have shame associated with porn viewing or sexual dysfunction that is not harming children.


Silva is @SilvaNeves3 on X and: silvanevespsychotherapy on IG
Lisa is @EthersonLisa on X and mrslisaethersoon on IG
her shame website can be found at www.shametraining.com

In todays timely episode we are talking "Unlocked" the REAL science of screens, smartphones and more with Professor Pete Etchells, a Science Communicator (a role he discusses in his book) who has been steeped in this domain for a very long time. His research is broad and deep and takes a sensible, I repeat sensible look at the world of what smartphones and devices and use really does show us over time. And yes, that newest 'ban' is discussed in depth as to where the practicalities and panic are being drawn from. To the haters his work is not underpinned by 'funded from big tech' which is a common retort to the work in the UK.This is longer than usual episode because we needed to take stock of the Chicken Little panic and reactive call to get rid of something that is an essential part of our lives, and how we can think about how to protect children from harms online, but... thinking sensibly and with research from a position from someone who has taken the time to deeply read the research and can describe what the findings really mean. We take a tour of the work Pete has been involved in from VVG to the current landscape and beyond with so much critical thinking in this conversation. I LOVED this chat and hope you do too, because we want our children to think critically about the content they see online... and that starts with us the adults!you can find Professor Pete here where you will find some great threads and thinking about this space on twitter/X : @ PeteEtchells and the same for IG

Join Helen Kara and I as she explores the intricacies of trauma-informed research. In this insightful conversation, Helen discusses the ethical considerations and methodologies crucial for conducting research with trauma survivors, those affected by trauma and those studying trauma, Including methods for interviews and costings and trauma therapy and more!
Listen and hear about trauma informed research and don't miss this comprehensive guide to ethical research methods!



#traumaawareness #traumainformedcare #traumainformed

Online safety campaigner and advisor to the Molly Rose foundation
In this eye-opening video, Andy Burrows exposes the shocking reality of online risks faced by children and teens today. Drawing upon years of experience working at the NSPCC, Andy reveals startling statistics that highlight the urgent need to protect young people in the digital age.
Key topics covered:
0:00 - The awareness of online risks among children
1:05 - The importance of creating a safe space for disclosure
1:31 - How targeted advertisements ruthlessly exploit children for profit
1:59 - Using metaphors to understand the insidious nature of online threats

Andy emphasises that while children are all too aware of the dangers they face online, many struggle to disclose their experiences out of fear. He stresses the critical role supportive adults play in fostering a culture where children feel empowered to seek help.

Through powerful analogies, like comparing targeted ads to personalized billboards in "Minority Report", Andy illustrates how product design has been weaponized against children. Parents, he argues, would be terrified if they truly grasped the extent of this exploitation.

This video is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about child safety in the digital world. By breaking the silence and confronting these issues head-on, we can work towards creating safer online spaces for the next generation.

https://andyburrows.substack.com/ here you will find the substack writings mentioned in the episode!


#onlinesafety #safetyandtechnology #cybersafety


About Cath Catherine Knibbs Online Harms and CyberPsychology - 30 years Consultant, Speaker & Educator, Psychotherapist, PHD Join Newsletter https://www.childrenandtech.co.uk/ Watch: TedX “Bodies, Brains and Technology: The Real Social Dilemma” on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRX_DWo3KPs The Polyvagal Motorway of wellness with brain and body visuals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGBv1KrJ5Pk Websites www.childrenandtech.co.uk www.catherineknibbs.co.uk www.privacy4.co.uk Social media Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nibzy_5.0/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-knibbs-frsa-human-behaviour-technologist-2ba67b52/ Twitter https://twitter.com/nibzy Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Online-Harms-Cyber-Trauma-Young-People/100063745772632/ Books written by Catherine Knibbs Children, Technology and Healthy Development Online Harms and CyberTrauma Children and Sexual-based Online Harms