On July 8, 2024 the United States celebrates National Video Game Day. To celebrate, FOSI asked its video game member companies about all things online safety and video games. Catherine Jensen, Vice President of Global Consumer Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment/PlayStation, had the following advice to share.
What is your #1 piece of online safety advice for parents of young gamers?
Start by creating a family manager account and child accounts for your young gamers. As their parent, you are in control of their experience. Be curious about the games and online experiences they are interested in and seek opportunities to actively participate or spectate with them. Play is better when done together.
As a video game company, how do you strive to prioritize online safety?
PlayStation is for everyone. Many of our players enjoy single player experiences with rich stories and expansive worlds, while others seek connection with others through multiplayer teamwork or competition. Some players crave both! We empower both players and family managers to control their experiences through intuitive social and privacy settings, so the amount of player-to-player engagement is customized for every player.
What advice do you have for wary parents whose kids would like to get into gaming?
Like movies or music, video games are embedded into popular culture. And similar to movies and music, games can be better when enjoyed together as a family. We provide tools for parents to ensure communication, play time, spending, and content ratings are set at the levels that are just right for each child in every family.
The future of tech looks a bit different than the world we are in now. As AI and genAI become more common in video games and elsewhere, how should parents and kids navigate these changes? Is there anything potentially unsafe they should look out for?
At Sony Interactive Entertainment, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have the potential to contribute to a variety of teams to help us deliver exceptional gaming experiences. We are always exploring ways to leverage technology to bring joy to our players. Currently, we are using AI to make our products and services both better and safer. Parents and kids should know that our social and privacy controls are effective regardless of source. We continuously evaluate our online safety policies and procedures to adapt and evolve with advancements in technology.
And finally, just for fun, what’s your favorite video game, and why?
I have too many favorites to name just one! The game I am looking forward to the most is Astro Bot, releasing on September 6. I was a big fan of Astro’s Playroom, which is pre-installed on PlayStation 5, so I am delighted to see what adventures lay in store for our beloved robot in the new stand-alone game.
Catherine Jensen is the Vice President of Global Consumer Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment, where she leads the global customer care and engagement strategy with a focus on PlayStation products and services, including the highly popular game console, PS5.
As a strong advocate for the safety and well-being of PlayStation customers, Catherine founded the global SIE Online Safety team in 2019, collaborating with organizations like the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and other industry leaders to develop effective policies for safe and inclusive player experiences. Catherine's dedication extends to promoting wellness for players and moderators, leading to a transformative program nominated for the Great British Wellbeing Award for Workplace Wellbeing in 2023. She actively advocates for player and parental education, contributing articles and blogs to Sony Interactive Entertainment, and sponsors internal initiatives like the PlayStation Network Policy Against Hate Speech and the PlayStation Network Code of Conduct.
Catherine's collaboration with external organizations such as the Internet Commission, Internet Matters, and the Family Gaming Database has led to innovative solutions, including "Press Start for PlayStation Safety," an interactive quiz that gamifies understanding of PlayStation safety features.
With her recent appearance on FOX News on summertime online kids' safety and her widespread recognition as a leading advocate for online safety and gamer well-being, Catherine Jensen continues to create a secure and enjoyable gaming environment with her invaluable experiences and profound insights.
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