Join us for the fourth session of the seminar series Virtual Worlds and Well-being: Setting the Research Agenda, which aims to advance a research programme on the impact of new virtual worlds on users, identifying key research questions and the most suitable methodologies to address them.
In this session, Dr Xinning Gui and Dr Yubo Kou (The Pennsylvania State University) will focus on the concept of harmful design practices in virtual worlds and their impact on the well-being of (often vulnerable) users, as well as on user disruptive behaviors and the governance practices needed to address them and create safe virtual environments.
- social sciences | information society
- Wednesday 26 March 2025, 15:00 - 16:00 (CET)
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 26 March 2025, 15:00 - 16:00 (CET)
- Languages
- English
- Part of
Description
First Part
Harmful Design Practices in Virtual Worlds
Dr Xinning Gui, The Pennsylvania State University
Abstract: Harmful design is a distinct form of harm that impacts users’ well-being in virtual worlds. Imagine a virtual world designer combining a set of innocuous elements to create a sexually explicit scene. The harmful effects arise from the interaction dynamics that occur after the design is released, especially when the players are children. Harmful design is an emergent form of harm, distinct from widely studied forms such as text- and image-based harm. In this talk, I will draw from my recent empirical research on both players and designers to elaborate on the notion, characteristics, and implications of harmful design practices.
Dr Xinning Gui is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State. Her research focuses on using a human-centered design approach to understand and promote well-being and safety in contexts where people interact with novel technologies. She has published in top-tier Human-Computer Interaction venues such as CHI, CSCW, and TOCHI. Her research has been recognized with six Best Paper Honorable Mention awards.
Second Part
Virtual World Governance
Abstract: As a major challenge to virtual world governance, disruptive user behaviors ranging from harassment to sabotage have an adverse effect on the well-being of others who reside in virtual worlds. The 3D, immersive aspect of virtual worlds only renders the impact of disruptive behaviors even severer. Yet, so far, understanding of disruptive behavior and how to govern it remains limited. In this talk, Dr Kou will draw from his research to discuss several factors contributing to disruptive behavior and reflect on existing governance approaches.
Dr Yubo Kou is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University, USA. His research lies in the intersection of human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, and video games. He is fundamentally interested in applying a human-centered design approach to investigate risks and safety threats in video games and virtual worlds, while exploring effective governance mechanisms and policies that enhance digital safety and protect users' well-being.
The seminar series Virtual Worlds and Well-being: Setting the Research Agenda is part of the project Virtual Worlds and Society, hosted by the Centre for Advanced Studies.