ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Once school gets out, you might find many young gamers inside the new Metro E-Sports lounge at the Schottland YMCA. It’s a space that’s all about encouraging community.
“You can sit at home, or you can come here and actually be sitting next to people [who are] a part of your team,” said Jeff Cogan, executive director of the Schottland Family Branch.
But not every conversation in the online gaming world is friendly. Around 60% of children say they’ve witnessed some form of cyberbullying, according to dosomething.org.
New technology from software company Kidas wants to give parents and administrators peace of mind.
“Gaming can be great, but it’s the same with a bicycle,” said Kerbs. “If you ride it without a helmet, if you don’t follow the rules, it can be risky.”
Founder Ron Kerbs says it uses artificial intelligence to scan chats and conversations for signs of inappropriate language. If any is detected, it’s supposed to alert an adult.
“They will get a transcript, a summary of what happened with enough information for them to act,” said Kerbs.
Right now, the technology is in six YMCAs across Rochester and the Philadelphia area, where Metro E-Sports was founded.