Member Spotlights: Zina Zhang

What do you do, and how long have you been doing it? I study video games and player safety for both adults and children. I began my HCI journey in 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant, where I observed key developmental differences in how adolescents experience online interactions and require safety support. Since 2022, I have continued online safety research as a PhD student, specifically focusing on video games. My interest is also personal: I began gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to connect with others, but I also encountered uncomfortable situations. These experiences motivated me to examine how design choices contribute to risk, and how games can be made safer and more supportive for all players.