Cyber Synapse Podcast

This weeks episode features a fabulous guest Rebecca Avery, it is a stunningly jam packed conversation encompassing many of the latest trends and e-safety buzzwords that turn many people off. No fear though as we don't actually name any of them,. What we do cover is; The Online Harms white paper (very briefly), Meme's (Article 13 and whether copyright will remove these), "that" viral trend of recent times. We reflect on the e-safety advice and how the Education sector can often get caught up in myths and scare stories, however this can often be driven by fear. We reflect on what often happens in Education and how e-safety can be driven by assembly based 'lessons' and one time interventions and how these may not work effectively as the Education sector relies on the 'expertise' of visitors who may frighten the children, parents and staff. We discuss how critical thinking needs to be applied to those professionals who claim to be 'experts' in their field and how resources in this area need to be evidence based and peer reviewed so that we can do better in our education of children and help them. We reflect on why shock tactics do not work and how we can empower young people, rather than present 'style over substance' (well said Rebecca!). This leans into the 'commercialism' of certain resources and how these can err on the side of 'shock', 'fear' and the 'Just say No' approach...or perhaps an ego boost?

In short do you critically think about any resources you use or support? Are we barking up the wrong e-safety trees? Is the e-safety message overlapping and hiding the conversational content that could yield so much more learning for both child and adult? How do you assess anything you read or watch online? Have you ever taken a step back to do so?

This episode will be great for Teachers, Professionals and Parents alike.

Do share this episode and perhaps share with people who take things at face value online. Challenging our thinking is the way to open our minds to new information and this enables us to create more conversations. As always, thank you for listening, I appreciate all of you who do and thank you to those of you who get in touch to let me know how this helps you and your children. I am really honoured to have your feedback. Please do leave a review on iTunes and let's empower ourselves to do better and help our children!

When will the internet become regulated to a degree that you will no longer have free will? This weeks episode takes a look into authoritarianism and how this transitions into the digital world. Are you seeing all you can see? Will we become a state where free speech, free searches and access are no longer a thing? Will our choices be determined like a Truman show? This episode looks at choices made by China and Russia and how we could also be privy to a ‘patented’ state. Another deep conversation with Justin Sherman and one that will get you thinking....

This episode I'm joined by Dr Rachel Kowert and this is the last of the trio of gaming related specials. Fear not though as this conversation is a super duper chat about Rachels book which is an easy to read guide with evidence based facts delivered in an easy to read format, taking away the academic 'wordery' that can so often discourage parents from reading large 'clunky' books. Rachel writes a compact book which can be read in one sitting, which is kind of how we like books to be that are aimed at Parents who rarely have time for a hot coffee!

We talk 'shop', addiction, violence, unintended learning, misogyny, gaming communities, friendships, communication, male to female ratios, vision, flow, loneliness and discuss new areas of research that need investigating.

This was another awesome guest and one I would love to have back as we navigate further research and findings around digital media and parenting.

Let me know your thoughts on the last few episodes and content and lets see what else there is missing from your knowledge banks.

As always thanks for being a listener and supporting the podcast, please do share this with anyone you think might need to hear about these issues. please take 30 seconds to rate the podcast too to help people discover it.

Take care and catch you soon!

Rachel’s book is: A parents guide to video games, The essential guide to understanding how video games impact your child's physical, social, and psychological well-being

This extra and special episode comes to you courtesy of the book edited by Dr Anthony Bean, which is called The Psychology of Zelda, Linking our world to the legend of Zelda series.

We talk about the books chapters written by some fantastic contributors and bringing topics such as existentialism, projection, grief, feminism and more!

This book is now my top ranking therapeutic book based on the contents and one that is essential reading for players of this game (past or present) and for parents and professionals. It really is a delightful read and one I hankered down on upon its arrival, which I have been eagerly anticipating since Tony and I spoke last episode.

Tony has some great reflections on the book contents and this is one episode that sits snuggly between two gaming specials bringing you the second of a trio of #gamingforgood and not as 'bad' as is often made out by the media skew...listen in to find out.

As always thanks for your support in the podcast downloads and shares that take place. Thank you to those people who feedback and let me know what they like and are enjoying. Please do continue to let me know and support the podcast as this really does hack into my writing time and I am doing my best to bring you as many episodes as I can, as quickly as I can.

This is a special trio based on some recent feedback at a conference asking about this topic; and my passion to emphasise the huge amount of research and knowledge in this area that highlights the real benefits of games. (adults and child alike)

Enjoy!

Today I'm joined by Dr Jamie Madigan who is the host of a podcast called The Psychology of GAMES (not gaming as I called it in the chat #fail).

He and his podcast will be such a great addition to your podcast library and knowledge bank - all of the questions you have about gaming have likely been answered on his podcast/site or in his book! See below for all links

Jamie speaks about his website which has 10 years worth of work behind it so again any answers you are seeking are likely to be found on there, we have a quick tour of some gaming issues which include those biggies that have appeared on previous episodes such as Violence, Addiction and Jamie shares his views around these topics.

Overwhelmed/starstruck (& with tech issues on the day) meant lots of questions I wanted to ask fell out of my head as I didn't have my notes with me- I'm still learning on the job, so this episode is the first of a few focusing on games/gaming and I'll hopefully get Jamie back this year to converse about the in depth issues as we hopefully move away from the media driven hype and myths around games.... I hope!!!

Jamies website is: www.psychologyofgames.com

His book is Getting gamers and is here for UK peeps: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Gamers-Psychology-Impact-People/dp/1442239999

You can also find him on Twitter: @JamieMadigan

Let me know if there are any questions you would like answering going forward and

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Today im joined by Amy Orben DPhil candidate at Oxford University and is a guest I have been waiting to interview for some time and Im so happy to bring this episode to you about her research!

You have likely heard me discussing this research in many previous episodes and how I lean on the 'actual' data that is out there, with the focus on what the data really means and how the media and some researchers can skew this data to 'fit their hypothesis' to scaremonger and drive a narrative that demonises the young people of today and their technology use.

Amy discusses and explains her research and .does this in a way that should be easy for you to understand why we can be so easily misled by the errors of misrepresentation and why critical thinking is a skill we all need

(I think i must say that every episode somewhere)

Enjoy the chat and head over to iTunes to rate this podcast, leave some thumbs up on the YouTube video and help provide free therapy for the children I will be seeing in my PhD research by visiting patreon.com/cybersynapse or head to my website and donate!

This week Im joined by Lael Stone. All the way from Sunny Australia. She is a Mum, education specialist around birth, sexuality and parenting and creates wellness in families through connection, communication and education.

On this episode we talk about talking to your children about Sex and Pornography in a compassionate, open and empathic way, with lots of humour.

We focus on age appropriate conversations, body image, childbirth, realistic versus pornograhic sexual activity and conversations that might not be suitable for around younger children unless youre ready to answer those questions!

This episode really gets in touch with the topic and parenting without shaming language and hopefully will give you confidence to begin these conversations with your children, no matter the age. And yes its likely to be more embarrassing for you rather than them?

Lael Stone has a facebook page with the same name find her over there to follow her work.

Unfortunately the book referenced is unavailable in the U.K. but hopefully soon!

Today I'm joined by Aylssa Cowell who is working in Brunei in an International school and works with young people as a school counsellor. Aylssa was also previously a Youth worker here in the U.K and we met through the topic of teaching Sex -education for young people.

We talk Young people and sexuality, young people and peer pressure and Instagram stories, identity and how young people are seemingly staying on their devices to 'be there' for each other and how this can mimic the job that Aylssa and I do, ie are young people 'Counsel' for their peers?

We contemplate that in our roles we are expected to have supervision as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burn out are a real threat to our profession, yet young people are managing the Mental Health of their peers, who can be almost anywhere in the world at any time.

Young people really are doing their best for each other, however this is not a role they can be expected to keep fulfilling at this volume if they are to thrive in their own rights? More adults needed to help them manage this please, adolescents need to concentrate on being adolescents, so get talking to them and see how many peers they feel they need to look out for and you might just be amazed. They are tenacious, caring and supportive and perhaps thats why they are on their smartphones as much as they are?

Head over to Patreon.com/cybersynapse to learn more about topics like this. Parenting tips and how to speak with your child/young person about issues such as this and more will be added over the coming months. Sign up for as little as a £1 per month.

This video sits just before the New year so you have time to tune in and listen to the perspective of two young ladies; Molly and Bella who take you through some of their experiences and views about cyberspace and how they use Snapchat. If you want to know what happens for young people this is the podcast episode for you as they articulate their use and opinions on the platform.

This is a great episode in terms of you learning from these young people and finding out how they feel and felt as they grew with this technology and what they think about advertising!

Please do share this episode with any adults who have young people using this platform. Both Bella and Molly will be back to discuss other platforms and meanwhile if you know of any young person who would like to talk cyberspace get them to email me via my website.

Lets have more young peoples voices out there regarding their world.

Don't forget to rate, subscribe and head over to www.patreon.com/cybersynapse and see you in 2019 for more cyber related issues and chats.

Happy New Year!!

The first of two festive treats from season 2 and once again I'm back with Alan to discuss the latest trends that he's hearing about in the classrooms.

This episode we dare to talk about a normal child behaviours but one that may well be a cautionary tale about knowing what your children are up to.

We discuss trends, YouTube and dares or challenges and Alan discusses a great example of needing to know because safety and child protection issues can be influenced by the internet and how children engage with it and each other.

Another episode packed to the brim with information and advice and one to definitely be shared with parents and Teachers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and for those who prefer HAPPY HOLIDAYS have a great time wherever you are.

Alan can be found at https://www.esafety-adviser.com

The book I refer to (and give my opinion on) is by Gabor Mate and Gordon Neufeld and its called 'Hold on to your Kids'

Dont forget to rate, subscribe and head over to www.patreon.com/cybersynapse as theres now an audio editor for the podcast version! 2019 might just bring a video editor...(get in touch if you can help)