Developing a research methodology for children’s online privacy
With growing concerns over children’s online privacy and the commercial uses of their data, it is vital that children’s understandings of the digital environment, their digital skills and their capacity to consent are taken into...Read more
The impact of media use and screen time on children
Decades ago, kids loved going outside because doing so opened up worlds of possibilities. Sticks, rocks, and flowers turned into playthings when youngsters used their imaginations. Being outside also gave them plenty of room to...Read more
Rethinking the rights of children for the internet age
The internet is now 30 years old, making it the same age as the key formulation of children’s rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the intervening years, our understanding of...Read more
Protection of children online: does current regulation deliver?
More children are going online, more frequently, via more devices and services, at ever-younger ages. The internet and accompanying technological developments offer huge opportunities for children, but they also pose risks to minors’ safety, wellbeing...Read more
Conceptualising privacy online: what do, and what should, children understand?
Post-Cambridge-Analytica, and post-GDPR, children are becoming increasingly aware of how their data is being used online but there are still limits to their digital literacy. In this post, Sonia Livingstone, Mariya Stoilova and Rishita Nandagiri...Read more
Mobile phones now banned in French schools
The start of the new school year in France has brought with it a ban on mobile phones during school hours. It affects children in primary school and those aged 11-15. This new ruling leaves children...Read more
A conversation with EU Youth Ambassador Ali Mahlodji
EU Youth Ambassador Ali Mahlodji is one of the keynote speakers for the Child in the City World Conference coming up from September 24-26 in Vienna, Austria. Ahead of the conference, he spoke about his...Read more
Council of Europe: EU states must protect digital rights of children
EU countries have been given clear guidelines on how to better respect and protect the rights of children in a ‘digital environment’. They form part of a new recommendation adopted by the Council of Europe (CoE) which...Read more
CITC Weekly Roundup: Friday April 6
Here is our weekly collection of worldwide stories highlighting the importance of promoting and protecting children’s rights and strengthening the position of children in cities. This week’s round-up includes stories from across the globe that...Read more
NZ invests in digital access for low-income students
New Zealand has launched a 3.5 million euro ‘All Equity Fund’ that will give disadvantaged students better access to digital tools, skills and knowledge. The project will benefit 12,500 children a year over three years. Announced...Read more
What are kids getting out of playing Minecraft?
Parents are made to worry that their children are spending too much time on their screens playing games, but maybe they’re just… playing. A 2015 poll found that Australian adults rated “excessive screen time” as their...Read more
A guide to keeping children safe online
Raising a kid is tough enough without the meddling of the internet. Although the internet offers kids fantastic opportunities for learning and entertainment, there are also many dangers lurking in the dark – from catfishing...Read more
What the EU General Data Protection Regulation means for children in the UK
Professor Sonia Livingstone and LSE MSc Media Communications Governance student DaYoung Yoo reflect on the discussions surrounding the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what it will mean for children. For some policy areas, it...Read more
Child experts and advocates urge Facebook to scrap Messenger Kids
Child experts, educators and advocates plead with Mark Zuckerberg to pull the plug on Messenger kids an app for children under thirteen. They argue, “this new app will undermine children’s healthy development.” A team of over...Read more