Move fast without breaking things

There's an app that lets a child create an AI version of themselves. It lists their good points and their flaws, and it answers their friends' messages in their voice. It's clever, and I can see why it was built. I keep thinking about how a child might feel reading that description of themselves. Is that who I am? Is that how I'm supposed to be?

Every quarter I review over 100 apps, games and devices used by children for a UK online safety resource. It means I see where products are heading and where risks are emerging. Any feature can affect a child in unexpected ways, and a safety feature can work perfectly in theory but fail in real life.

Tech moves fast, and so does our understanding of how it shapes children's behaviour. Much of my work is horizon scanning: following new products and the research on how children use them, so I can spot trends and risks early. Parents trust products that respond to their worries. I hear those worries first-hand in my online safety workshops.

To move fast without breaking things, step back and look at your product as an outsider would. Then ask:

  1. Do you know who is using your product? Outside your target market, who else could use it, and why?

  2. Could any feature be used for something you didn't design it for?

  3. If something goes wrong, how does a child or parent tell you, and what happens next?

  4. Does your product do what your marketing says? Do your terms match?

I also carry out in-depth reviews for companies whose products children and families use, such as phones and parental controls. With the best of intentions, development can drift in a direction that wasn't in the original plan. I work a bit like the bumpers in a bowling lane: I help keep you on track while your focus is on growth. I'm as comfortable talking to your product team about a settings screen as talking to your board about risk.

Your team knows your product inside out. Fresh eyes are harder to come by. If you'd like to talk about a review, I offer a free 20-minute conversation. Get in touch at jess@jessdigital.co.uk, or read more at jessdigital.co.uk/productreview.