THIS JUST IN: In a historic development for the Internet and its users under 18, the Council of Europe today adopted a Recommendation – a comprehensive set of guidelines to European Union member states – for upholding children's rights in digital environments, their rights as digital citizens. "How to better protect and empower children as rights-holders... is at the core of the new … [Read more...] about Signs of serious progress for digital citizenship
Sonia Livingstone
What does GDPR mean for our kids?
You may be wondering what, if any, impact Europe's sweeping new data law, GDPR (for General Data Privacy Regulation), has on parenting tech users in your life. After all, it went into effect today, and you may've seen headlines like the New York Times's about how it makes Europe the "world's leading tech watchdog" or the piece in Ad Age pointing out the irony that a data privacy law triggered a … [Read more...] about What does GDPR mean for our kids?
A book for wise (digital) parenting
The Art of Screen Time, by NPR's Anya Kamenetz, could not be more timely. What with hearings and headlines about digital privacy, so much talk about "tech addiction," and bad advice about "screen time," parents deserve this haven from the storm. And it's a haven not just because Kamenetz is a great reporter with sources representing multiple perspectives and disciplines. Also because she knows … [Read more...] about A book for wise (digital) parenting
We need to manage the social media backlash too
It's like a moral panic on steroids. Adding to the "reckoning" already under way since the 2016 election (see Related links below) is the news yesterday of a new, high-profile coalition of some of social media's creators and backers and Common Sense Media. The steroids part is the funding ($7 million from individuals, the Omidyar Network and Common Sense Media), the PR ($50 million in donated … [Read more...] about We need to manage the social media backlash too
The state of global youth, digitally speaking: Research
There could be no better year-end wrap-up or gift for stakeholders in youth online safety worldwide than UNICEF's just-released "State of the World's Children…in a Digital World." In it are the latest research, stories and commentaries from multiple international perspectives, including, to its credit, those of young people in 26 countries. In addition to their views and practices, the report … [Read more...] about The state of global youth, digitally speaking: Research