Societal Computing Thesis Proposal

Teenagers are using the internet for a variety of social and identity-based activities,but in doing so, they are exposed to risky situations. The work of ensuring teens’ online safety falls to largely parents, many of whom are unprepared to understand the realities and norms of teens’ online activity. In this thesis, we will investigate how parents and teens perceive online risks, the efficacy of current tools designed to keep teens safe online, and finally, whether we can improve currently available online safety tools.