Did you know that a robot has been given legal citizenship and personhood? People are obsessed with lifelike robots and dolls. What makes us so fascinated with objects that resemble us? In this GKIS article, we will be exploring several types of lifelike automatons and dolls as well as the psychology behind our obsession with them. If you are unsure of how to protect your tweens’ and teens’ growing reliance on technology and obsession with online presence, Dr. Bennett’s Social Media Readiness Online Course will give you the answers you are looking for and help you to navigate through these ever-changing waters!
What is the difference between an automaton and a doll?
While some may use the words interchangeably, there is a huge difference between an automaton and a doll. Most importantly, automatons are mechanized robots, while dolls do not move by themselves. Another important difference is the trend to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into lifelike automatons. Artificial intelligence is a program that allows a computer to mimic the human mind, which allows it to make changes to itself. The advancement of artificial intelligence has stoked new interest and debate about morality and personhood. After all, the more advanced artificial intelligence gets, the more these robots resemble actual humans. It may not be too far off until we see a robot that possesses an actual consciousness.
Sophia
Sophia is one of the most famous lifelike robots in the world. She is an ultra-realistic humanoid robot with advanced artificial intelligence. She can hold conversations with people and has been on several press tours and has done numerous interviews where she converses with people and discusses what it is like to be her. She has even been on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Honestly, it is pretty trippy to watch.
While the fact that she can hold intelligible conversations with people is impressive, it is even more monumental that she has citizenship. In 2017, Saudi Arabia gave Sophia citizenship, making her the first AI to be given legal personhood and human rights.[1] While this may be more of a marketing strategy for Hanson Robotics and positive publicity for Saudi Arabia, the fact remains that a robot has been given legal autonomy.
Erica
Lifelike robots are also being considered as labor options. Erica is a robot developed by roboticist, Hiroshi Ishiguro. She has lifelike skin, hair, and facial expressions. Like Sophia, she also utilizes AI to hold conversations, read, and recognize human faces. She currently has her own YouTube channel and appears on television in Japan as a news anchor.[2] While she can not move her limbs, she can move her neck and waist to turn toward people. Erica’s lifelike facial movements and ability to read and recite the news have given her a bit of celebrity status in Japan.
Sex Robots
Did you know there is a huge market for sex robots? Sex robots are lifelike, anatomically correct androids that are built for pleasure. These robots can be ordered to look and sound however the buyer wants. They can also be programmed to say specific phrases and respond in specific ways. They can also run different scenarios to simulate realistic experiences. Unfortunately, rape scenarios are available. If you are curious about sex robots, look out for my upcoming article here on GKIS.
Reborn Dolls
Reborn dolls are lifelike dolls made by artists, that usually resemble babies or toddlers. These dolls are extremely realistic and have garnered an entire subculture of fans who are dedicated to them. While they do not move, speak, or communicate in any way, the people that own them treat them as if they were real children.
Some people use these dolls for therapeutic purposes. There have been instances where mothers who have lost their babies have had lifelike dolls made in their child’s likeness to deal with their grief. They have also been used to deal with infertility, miscarriages, and depression.
Super Dollfie
Volks is an action figure/doll company that makes anatomically correct, hyper-realistic figures. If you are having a hard time imagining this, think Barbie with all the naughty bits. These figures are highly sought after by collectors and go for exorbitant prices. They are extremely customizable, and you can even buy clothing for them that is more finely detailed than most of the stuff in the average person’s closet. The attention to detail on these things is insane. All the clothing, hair, and body parts can be changed out to make the doll look however you want it to.
Possible Reasons Why People are Obsessed with Lifelike Robots and Dolls
People are curious by nature
People get lonely
People look for connection and meaning everywhere
There is no risk of rejection
Some people have social anxiety
Staying Informed and Keeping Your Family Safe
Dr. B is in a unique position to help you to learn more about the potential dangers that your family could face when engaging with the internet and technology. As a practicing psychologist, university professor, and mother, she can help you and your family safely traverse the digital world we live in.
In Dr. B’s book, Screen Time in the Mean Time, she discusses and attacks the issue of raising a family while safely integrating technology rather than fearing it. Also, you can download the free GKIS Connected Family Agreement simply by creating a GKIS account on our website home page. If you are looking for other fun and informative stories, check out the GKIS Blog. For other useful tips about how to make the internet a safer place for your family, you can get parenting and family coaching information, support, and other valuable information from the GKIS Screen Safety Essentials Course.
Thanks to CSUCI intern, Michael Watson for researching lifelike automatons and dolls.
I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetKidsInternetSafe.
In the fast-paced world that we live in, it can feel downright impossible to get the entire family together in the same room. Trying to find an activity that everyone can enjoy together is an even more improbable task. Yet, sharing experiences as a family and spending time together is necessary for creating close family bonds and maintaining a sense of connection. Today’s GKIS article covers the pros and cons of the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5, recommendations for games to play as a family, suggestions for appropriate games that your kid can play alone, and some brief tips to keep your kids safe and connected when it comes to gaming.
Yesterday versus Today
In today’s digital landscape, there is a generational divide when it comes to what is fun. While you may reminisce on the fun you had playing Chutes and Ladders and Monopoly with your family when you were a child, your memories are probably being affected by that funhouse mirror known as nostalgia. Even if those games were fun when we were kids (I am not so sure they were), your children are used to a much more technically advanced world where entertainment comes in the form of video games, social media, and streaming services. Therefore, adaptation may be needed to have a successful family night where everyone has fun.
Here are some reasons why video games are a great way to connect with your kids:
Can be accessed at any time
Can fit into the most restrictive of work schedules
No need for planning
Do not have to worry about losing game pieces
Do not have to explain a complex set of rules
Most games are highly intuitive requiring little explanation
Creating family cohesion and safely navigating the technological world we live in can be difficult at times. Our Connected Family Course gives expert advice and strategies to create a connected home environment without having to disconnect from the internet.
What is the PlayStation?
The PlayStation is a series of video game systems created by Sony. For this article, the focus will be on the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5, which are the current production models. The PlayStation 4 was released in 2013 and has sold over 114.9 million units worldwide, making it one of the most successful gaming consoles ever released.[1] The PlayStation 5 is the newest of Sony’s consoles, released in 2020, and is wildly popular and highly sought after. The PlayStation 5 has already sold over 10 million units and sells for a substantial mark up in the secondary market.[2]
The Pros and Cons of the Sony PlayStation
Pros
The biggest advantage of the PlayStation is that it is the most technologically advanced series of consoles on the market. Also, the PlayStation has a huge userbase so there will always be people to play with online. The PlayStation 4 and 5 are not solely game consoles. They have brilliant interfaces allowing the user to stream movies, television, and music from different apps, making them great choices for a one-stop entertainment hub.
Additionally, the PlayStation 5 is mostly backward compatible with the PlayStation 4. So, if you buy a game on the PlayStation 4 and later upgrade to the PlayStation 5, you can play most of your PlayStation 4 games on the new console. With a gigantic catalog of games, many of the games are family-friendly.
Cons
The PlayStation 5 is in such high demand that it is nearly impossible to get your hands on one. While you may be able to find some models of the PlayStation 4 for under $300, the retail price of the PlayStation 5 is close to $1000. But they sell for much more on the secondary market due to the high demand. Due to Covid, there is a huge supply shortage making these things harder to get than a Tickle Me Elmo back in the day.
Many parents don’t realize that kids can browse the internet through their PlayStation consoles. That means they can access anything or anybody through that browser. That means you MUST program parental controls if you don’t want your child exploring inappropriate online neighborhoods.
PlayStation Games to Play as a Family
With the PlayStation, there are a variety of interactive ways to connect with your family. You can play games together or use the console as a multimedia hub to stream a movie through your favorite streaming service.
Here are 4 fantastic PlayStation games for you and your kids to play together:
Just Dance 2021
Rock Band 4
Little Big Planet 3
Just Dance 2021
Just Dance is a motion-based rhythm game, which is a fancy way of saying that you dance to the beat of the music and try to perform choreographed moves. This game is a brilliant choice as it is a great way to exercise as a family. There are plenty of songs to choose from ranging from Lady Gaga to Billie Eilish. Each song has its own choreography and poses to learn as well.
This game has an ESRB rating of “E10,” meaning it has been approved for everyone ages 10 and up. The reason for the 10 and up age rating is that some of the songs have crude lyrics, though it is no worse than anything that they will hear on the radio. If you don’t want your children to hear these songs, there is a “kids mode” with songs that are more tailored for young children, like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story 3.
This game is perfect for slumber parties and family reunions, as well as for any other occasions where you or your kids want to be active. We think this game is well designed, and the controls are intuitive making it a fun way to exercise and get your groove on.
Rock Band 4
Have you ever wanted to start a family band or be the Partridge Family? Rock Band is a game where you physically interact with video game controller versions of instruments. Up to 4 people can play at once, as there are drums, bass, guitar, and a microphone to choose from. The cool thing about this game is that it is very interactive and some of the skills learned from playing this game can be carried over to real-life when it comes to the drums and vocals. Like the previous game on the list, Rock Band 4 is also a great way to get some exercise in.
This game has an ESRB rating of T for Teen due to some of the song lyrics. Yet, like Just Dance 2021, there is nothing in this game that your kids won’t hear on the radio. Also, you can customize which songs come up in the playlist to avoid any songs that you find problematic.
Rock Band can be a great choice for parties and sleepovers as well. Kids can take turns on the different instruments and switch out after each song. It is also fun to be a spectator watching others play as well, so kids won’t get too frustrated waiting for their turn.
Little Big Planet 3
Little Big Planet 3 is an action platformer at its core. Up to 4 players can work together to take on each stage as an obnoxiously cute sack person. Browse “Little Big Planet images” to see what the cute little dude looks like. The game is massive and there are an immense number of levels to play through. On top of that, players can create their own levels and share them with other players. Having a huge creative community has made the replay value for this game limitless as players have created a ridiculous number of unique experiences.
Little Big Planet 3 has an ESRB rating of E, meaning it has been approved for children of all ages. This game also allows your children to utilize their creativity in a way that they will not get anywhere else. You and your kids can take the role of game creators and make your own levels and experiences to play, share, and show off to your friends and family.
PlayStation Games Your Kids Can Play Alone
Video games make great rewards for when your kid does something wonderful. There are an immense number of games to choose from. However, it can be overwhelming to find a game for your child that is age-appropriate. There are plenty of games out there that are excessively violent, have strong language, and have sexual situations in them.
Here is a list of 3 games that we recommend as rewards for your child:
Tearaway Unfolded
Rayman Legends
Ratchet & Clank
Tearaway Unfolded
Imagine this game scene, your face is the sun observing and interacting with a paper doll character. You explore vast paper environments and manipulate objects to solve puzzles to help your paper character throughout the adventure. This game design allows for a level of empathy and emotion rarely seen in video games, as the characters directly interact with you.
Tearaway Unfolded is rated E for everyone and has been deemed acceptable for all ages. There is little in this creative game that could offend or be seen in a negative light.
The most brilliant part of this game is the bonus stuff that allows the player to interact with the characters in the real world. There are templates that can be printed out and constructed so that your kid can have a physical version of his character to play with. The creativity and uniqueness involved in this experience of bringing the game characters to life and interacting with them offers a shared activity between you and your kid that is unlike any other and utterly priceless.
Rayman Legends
Here at GKIS, we think that the music levels in Rayman Legends are some of the most wonderful levels ever made in the history of video games. Rayman Legends is undoubtedly one of the greatest platformers ever made. The controls are extremely smooth, and the gameplay is spotless.
In this game, you play as the titular character and make your way through the many levels and challenges throughout the game. The game has a very playful art style and is very satisfying to play.
This game has an ESRB rating of E10 for everyone age 10 and up due to cartoon violence and comic mischief. The violence is very mild when compared to other games, and there is no blood or guts. For a single-player game, it has an incredible amount of replay value due to the vast number of things to do in its virtual world.
Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank is an action-adventure game where the main characters are a “lombax” and his robot companion. In the game Ratchet and Clank, the goal is to navigate the world with the fox/human hybrid character and the robot to find new weapons and gadgets that will help to save the universe.
Ratchet & Clank has been rated E10 (for everyone 10 and up) due to the violence against animated monsters. Yet, the weapons used in the game are ridiculous and outlandish. There is little chance that your kid is going to get their hands on a “groovinator” or a “sheepinator” in real life unless they’re future genius inventors.
How To Keep Your Kids Safe Playing Video Games
Research the games before buying them
Check the ESRB ratings
Play with your children or check in on them
Talk to your children and maintain a close family bond.
To stay in the know about how to keep your kids and teens safe online, check out our weekly parenting and family coaching videos provided through the Screen Safety Essentials Course. This comprehensive program will help families to become informed by providing you with the tools and expertise to keep your family connected and safe while engaging online.
Doctor B’s parenting guide, Screen Time in the Mean Time, is a wealth of knowledge about screen safety and keeping your kids safe from the numerous dangers inherent in the world we live in.
Thanks to CSUCI intern, Michael Watson for researching family-friendly games for the PlayStation 4 and 5.
I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetKidsInternetSafe.
On November 11, 2016 I was invited to participate in a panel discussion and present in a breakout session at the Safe Smart Social Conference at the Microsoft Corporate Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. Here is a link to the panel presentation with thought leaders in child screen safety. My favorite takeaway?
***
How can we collaborate with technology to build a connection with our kids?
Strive to have a strong, fun, connection with your children that includes an ongoing dialogue; one of the best ways to achieve that connection is with tech. If children see us as a partner in tech, then we can keep the conversation open. Remember that the partnership between tech and your connection with your child is the most important. –Dr. Tracy Bennett, GetKidsInternetSafe
It was a no-brainer for me to include the confessional question-and-answer app, ask.fm, on the GKIS social media red light list. But then … I was contacted by Catherine Teitelbaum, Chief Trust and Safety Officer for ask.fm. Her generous efforts to inform us about their recent investment of “millions of dollars” and impressive safety updates to bring ask.fm up to industry best practice standards gave me pause. I’ll explain more about recent developments at the end of my article. But despite updated safety implementations, I still have real safety concerns because, in my community, ask.fm remains very popular among middle schoolers and few seem to get out of this cyberbully battleground without long-lasting emotional scars. It’s the perceived anonymity and seductive invitation to ask and answer personal questions on a public forum that make this app risky for impulsive teens. Check out this week’s article so you know what to look out for on your child’s smartphone.
Recently a client shared with me how an ask.fm cyberbully incident triggered her first major depressive episode. She said that she initially really liked answering people’s questions on the app, sharing her opinions and private information. Until one day she woke up to a string of insults about her on the public bulletin board, leaving her hurt and demoralized, questioning constantly who was her friend and who was her enemy. Like other teens, instead of closing her account to escape the misery, she started to compulsively check comments in a futile attempt to feel in control of the situation.
As if that wasn’t difficult enough, shortly after the cyberbully posts a peer posed as her on the app and asked scandalous questions. Again she retreated into confused and frightened silence, too ashamed to tell anybody. She didn’t realize that she was placing herself in harms way by adding the ask.fm app to her Instagram. She eventually deleted it, but the damage was already done. She’s such a beautiful and kind girl it’s mindboggling how somebody would attack her this way and that it would hit her so hard. But then again, the sweet kids who have it all are often targeted and social acceptance is very important to young adolescents. It doesn’t take long to move from optimistic naiveté to defensive fear once cyberbullied. Here is GKIS Sensible Parent’s Guide to ask.fm.
What is ask.fm?
Ask.fm started as a social website and app where people can post questions anonymously (or with their screen name). Responses come in the form of text, images, or video. A user can opt not to receive anonymous questions. It’s commonly used by young people and is open for anyone to post comments and ask questions to the public profile. Users often cyberbully and post sexualized content on the site, and it is a convenient forum to start rumors and be cruel to others. Ask.fm’s Terms of Use states that the individual using the app or website must be thirteen years or older. However that does not stop younger children from using it.
What are ask.fm’s popular features?
The “home” icon is where you can view those you are following on ask.fm. You can see the questions and comments that they received and answers and responses to the comments and questions.
Next to the home icon are question marks. Under this icon you can view the questions people have asked you. Some of these questions are also random from ask.fm. These are questions that are generated through the site and you can answer them and post them to your page. So if you are not getting questions from your friends then this can help build your profile. To get these questions you can tap the green circle and more randomized questions from the app itself will pop up.
Next to the question mark icon is the profile icon where you can see your personal profile. Here you can view your own profile which contains your name, user name, photo, amount of followers, how many questions you’ve answered, amount of likes, and gifts you’ve received.
There is also the “Ask me a question,” button on every profile. If you click it, it will take you to a page where you can type your comment or question. At the bottom right hand corner there is a check box that when checked allows you post anonymously. Uncheck the box and it will show who asked or commented.
Next to the profile link, there is a link with shadowed heads. This is where you can see whom you are following.
The big green circle on this page is to help you add friends by either searching, adding them through other social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, or VK Friends.
The bell next to the friend’s link is where you can see your notifications, such as answers to questions you asked and likes on your page. The green circle on this page lets you choose what notifications you want to receive whether it is just answers, likes, or all.
What are the privacy options?
You can set your ask.fm account to not allow any anonymous questions and only receive comments or questions from people you know are asking. To do this you go to settings (this is on your public profile, there’s a settings button that looks like a tool), then you click on privacy, and uncheck the box that says “anonymous questions.”
What are the risks for use?
Cyberbully potential:
The fact that people can post anonymously makes it easy for people to post mean comments and/or threats to a person’s page people cannot post anonymously.
Inappropriate content potential:
Just like any other application or social networking site, posts about sex are highly common on ask.fm. People have the tendency to ask other people sex questions- like what they like, who they have been with, etc. Often times, the person being asked questions may end up sharing information that then may be used for cyberbullying. Teens may also inadvertently share personal information about themselves and friends and family members without recognizing long-term consequence.
How long has it been around and how popular is it?
Ask.fm was developed by two brothers from Latvia in 2010. It grew in popularity starting in Eastern Europe with a policy that seemed to value free speech over safety concerns. As with so many other social media apps, it became popular quickly and the creators may have been caught off guard and slow to understand the dangerous issues presenting and the important safety changes that needed to be made. Fortunately, the it was acquired by Ask.com (a public company that also owns Match.com, About.com, and numerous other online brands) and they have recently implemented significant safety changes. It is especially popular among teens (40% of users are reported to be under 18 years old). Eighteen billion questions and answers were posted in just one year! That, GKISsers, is A LOT of content. Fortunately, most interactions are inane or neutral to positive and sweet. Catherine Teitelbaum elaborated that users love the opportunity to ask questions and express themselves among peers.
What are the protection features?
Users are safest if they block anonymous answers and avoid the public stream. Using WiFi may save you on data charges.
Users are now required to be registered with ask.fm before they can log in and ask a question. That means they may be anonymous to other ask.fm users, but they are not anonymous on the backend from ask.fm security. If users violate terms of use, they can be held accountable by receiving a warning and even being banned from the site.
Responders can also report content or block another user if they feel threatened or bothered. All you have to do is go to their profile, click the flag button next to the follow button, and then click “block.” Ms. Teitelbaum told me that all reports will be responded to within 24 hours. However, flags are prioritized due to severity and action may be taken within 15 minutes.
Ask.fm has computer algorithms that search for inappropriate content on all questions (like self harm). If content is flagged, ask.fm staff will review the content and determine action. Answers can be in the form text, photo, or video. As of August, 2015, ask.fm policies have resulted in them taking 40% more action on content than before. Of course, as with all social media apps, teens become increasingly sophisticated working around controls using slang and nuance.
A gap I’ve identified continues to be that you can be anonymous or not when asking a question. This leaves a lot of opportunity for teens with poor judgement to post unflattering content about themselves and others. Posts are public and not exclusive to a buddy list. In theory, if a predator new a child’s profile name he/she could get into your child’s inbox. That portal to potentially gaining intimate information and/or interacting with you teen pushes ask.fm from yellow to red light in my opinion.
The GetKidsInternetSafe overwhelming message is that parents must monitor teen social media posts. This is easy with ask.fm in that EVERYTHING a user answers becomes automatically public and searchable.
Due to their high risk for cyberbullying, if you go to the settings again and click on safety center, it takes you to a page where you can get information on how to be safe on the site. There is also information on a suicide prevention lifeline. I also encourage your to check out the Terms of Use, which includes an impressive list of Rules of Conduct. For more information check out A Parent’s Guide to ask.fm. (Yay ask.fm! We are seeing significant progress in safety here. Cheers to concerned and noisy parents like us!)
Even with the recently instituted safety features, public and anonymous posting makes this a GKIS red light app, meaning no use prior to age 18 years. For good reasons, ask.fm has been compared to a virtual bathroom stall, demoralizing and vulgar. Because teens tend to be open and idealistic, parents are encouraged to use GKIS recommendations about monitoring, ongoing dialogue, and teaching important skills to kids about netiquette and judgement. Keep in mind that their immature problem solving region in their brain will often lead them to make mistakes. It’s critical that we make ourselves available for compassionate and informed consult. I totally “get” how compelling this app is to teens as a way to share with others. But from my perspective as a clinical psychologist, I worry a public format is simply too risky for young teens. Of course, it is important for families to make their own decisions based on their opinions and values and the individual traits of their kids. Similar apps to avoid include Whisper and Snapchat. What are your experiences with ask.fm? Have you run across problems, or do you consider this a reasonable app for your kids? Please scroll down and let me know what you think! And if you haven’t yet implemented the GKIS staging tools in your home that immediately result in improved safety, check out the GKIS Screen Safety Toolkit today!
Thank you to CSUCI student Adrienne Roy-Gasper for co-authoring this article.
I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetKidsInternetSafe.
