Ruth Guest (Sersha) | Ep 1

Ruth Guest (Sersha) | Ep 1

Exploring CyberPsychology with Ruth Guest: Founder of Sersha

In this episode, we delve into the intersection of technology and psychology with Ruth Guest, a cyberpsychologist and the founder of Sersha, an innovative platform aimed at educating preteens and their families about social media safety.

Ruth’s Journey into CyberPsychology

  • Ruth shares her evolution from a career in photography and marketing to becoming a CyberPsychologist. Her passion for technology and human interaction sparked during her childhood fascination with early internet platforms like MSN, Bebo, and MySpace.
  • A pivotal moment was her decision to pursue a master’s degree in CyberPsychology, which she completed during the pandemic. This academic foundation was instrumental in launching Sersha.

The Birth of Sersha

  • Sersha is a platform designed to teach preteens how to navigate social media safely through a simulated social media experience. The goal is not only to educate children but also to foster meaningful conversations within families about online safety.
  • Ruth emphasizes the unique design of Sersha: being engaging for kids, intuitive for parents, and aimed at bridging the knowledge gap between generations.

Addressing Real Concerns for Families

  • Common worries among parents include cyberbullying, stranger interactions, exposure to inappropriate content, and excessive screen time. Sersha offers an interactive, educational solution tailored to these issues.
  • Ruth’s innovative approach incorporates real-world elements like notifications and conversation prompts to encourage family discussions about digital behaviour.

The Future of Technology and Cyber Psychology

  • We touch on the rapid pace of technological evolution, including the rise of virtual reality, wearable tech, and tools like the Apple Vision Pro.
  • Ruth emphasizes the importance of staying proactive, informed, and educated both as individuals and families, to keep updated on the digital landscape.

Sersha is Revolutionary – being:

  • Parent-Friendly: Sersha helps parents understand platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and more without feeling overwhelmed by jargon or technicalities.
  • Child-Centred: The gamified learning experience ensures preteens are engaged while acquiring essential online safety skills.
  • Family Focused: Sersha strengthens communication and trust between parents and children by providing conversation starters.

Ruth’s recommended reading:

Connect on LinkedIn:

Get Involved with Sersha

Ruth invites parents of preteens (ages 8–13) to test Sersha’s platform and provide valuable feedback. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a tool designed to enhance digital literacy and family connections.

Closing Thought

Ruth’s passion for empowering families and educating children about online safety is a testament to the potential of CyberPsychology in shaping a safer, more connected digital world. Join her mission by exploring Sersha and actively participating in the evolving tech landscape.

What the acronyms mean:
  • IADT: Institute of Art, Design and Technology (Dublin, Ireland)
  • MVP: Minimum Viable Product
  • TAM: Technology Acceptance Model (the older we are, the less likely we are to accept technology)
  • CMC: Computer-mediated communication (how we communicate online)
Podcast Transcript

(Transcript generated directly from podcast audio using TurboScribe, and not manually corrected for transcribing errors).

Hi, my name is Carolyn Freeman. I’m a cyberpsychologist and today we’re chatting to Ruth Guest, who is also a cyberpsychologist and is founder of Socia. Welcome, Ruth, to our session.

Hi, Carolyn. Thank you so much for having me. It’s always such a pleasure to see you.

It’s a delight and a joy.

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