Speaker

Toronto, ON July 11, 2015
Barriers to Access: Web illiteracy and resulting fears amongst gatekeepers

The talk will focus on the barriers erected by parents from diverse communities, especially immigrants, which limit their children’s access to gaming and online communities. Parents/guardians are usually the primary gatekeepers to new media technologies for children in their formative years. By restricting access, these parents/guardians limit exposure to the technology and gaming industries, thus putting their children at a technological disadvantage, as they are often not as familiar with the industry or comfortable using the tools as their peers. This limitation often stems from fear and unfamiliarity with technology and gaming, and can lead to the fears can be inherited, creating obstacles to participation and eventually employment in the industries.