Year 1 Student - 2024 Cohort - Cohort 6

I completed my undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University in Wales, where I also studied modules in History and International Politics. This interdisciplinary approach to my studies has shaped my research interests, focusing on the intersection of technology, security, and social issues. My longstanding passion for ensuring children's safety online has guided me toward research in this area.

Specifically, my work will explore the overlap of child sexual exploitation, terrorism, and radicalization, with a focus on how these issues appear and spread on platforms like Discord and Roblox. I hope to contribute to the development of strategies that address online threats to vulnerable populations, particularly children.

Mapping the Intersection of Offender Psychology and Platform Design: How Digital Affordances Facilitate Online Child Grooming

The ubiquitous integration of platforms like Roblox and Discord into children's social lives has amplified the risk of online sexual exploitation. Despite platform safety claims, repeated cases of grooming and exploitation highlight substantial gaps, revealing how offenders strategically exploit technological features. This PhD research addresses the critical nexus between offender psychology, manipulative tactics, and platform digital affordances (e.g., anonymity, persistent communication, immersive interaction).

The study aims to move beyond viewing platforms as mere hosts for exploitation, focusing instead on how their design features are actively co-opted. A mixed-methods approach will analyze legal records, academic case data, and online environment dynamics to establish offender typologies and map their interactions with specific affordances.

OFCOM - industry placement
Catherine H-G - academic placement