Meet 

Catherine Knibbs

I am a Consultant Child and Adult Psychotherapist and Supervisor, Researcher, Online Harms Consultant, Trainer, Speaker, Author and Mum.

This means I know a lot about children and their approach and relationship with technology. I’m at the very forefront of the knowledge we have about the connection between biology and technology, and how we can use this knowledge.

I hold courses and learning events about children and technology, including gaming and social media, po*nography viewing, and online harm.

I cover not only the direct dangers of grooming and deception, but also the lesser-known dangers of hidden cyberbullying, eating disorders related to health advice, the effects of things heard or seen in the background (by-proxy-viewing as I named it in my PhD), when children are close to the device or TV that adults are watching media on, and even the effect upon children when using voice or AI enabled applications, platforms or games (for example asking Alexa for health or relationship advice), and so much more.

I have and do provide consultancy to VR and AI support services for children (Spirit Vr, Swayly and White Lens) and continue to make this a priority to protect children's data, privacy and rights online. 

What is Cybertrauma? 

Cybertrauma is any trauma that is a result of self or, other-directed interaction with, mediated through, or from any electronic internet/cyberspace ready device or machine learning or artificial intelligence algorithm, that results in impact now or future.
This event/interaction can be multi-modal, multi-platform and multi-interval, delayed or immediate, legal or not, singular or plural, and may include images, sound, and or text and may or may not be vitriolic in nature.
Events may include covert and overt typology and may be virtual and corporeal and/or at the same time. (Knibbs, 2016-2021)

Read this article to learn more.