From Research to Reality: Making Digital Spaces Safe for Children
Jeffrey Kluge, FHCA
Chief Kid's Code Officer, AI Policy Advisor & AI Ethics Consultant
The challenge facing today's digital product designers isn't a lack of research - it's knowing how to use it. The RITEC framework, a comprehensive collection of studies on children's development, offers profound insights into what children need to thrive. But how do we turn these academic findings into practical design decisions?
The Research-Practice Gap
Recent investigations into major tech platforms have revealed a troubling pattern: despite having access to research showing negative impacts on children's well-being, some companies continued with harmful design practices. This isn't just a failure of ethics - it's a failure to translate research into actionable design principles.
Building the Bridge
At KidsTethics, we're addressing this gap head-on. By analyzing RITEC's findings on:
We're creating clear, practical guidelines for businesses. These aren't just recommendations - they're actionable criteria that companies can use to evaluate and improve their products.
The Path Forward
The solution isn't just more research - it's better translation of existing research into practice. When businesses understand how to operationalize academic insights about children's development, they can create digital spaces that truly support young users' well-being.