It's exciting to see the signs of adult support for youth voices and participation multiplying. It's important and it's time. Here is just a sampler of this encouraging trend: Agency for citizenship. In Internet safety circles, we're seeing increasing focus on citizenship (online and offline) rather than on safety alone – safety as a means to competent participation and expression in … [Read more...] about Youth participation’s growing momentum
childrens rights
Two 2014 anniversaries that say reams about our kids’ futures
We don't want to let 2014 slip away without marking two anniversaries that are very important to our children: those of an invention and a convention. This year was the 25th anniversary of Tim Berners-Lee's release of his computer code creating the World Wide Web, now with some 3 billion users worldwide, and the 25th anniversary of the UN's adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child … [Read more...] about Two 2014 anniversaries that say reams about our kids’ futures
The next version of ‘Internet safety’: A look under the hood
"Under the bonnet," colleagues across the Atlantic and Down Under might say. I put it that way because this post is a bit more e-safety geeky than usual. Parents and caregivers who don't geek out on this topic might find this mildly interesting, though, because we're talking about kids' wellbeing in media and in life. Going forward, the value of "Internet safety" – if the concept doesn't … [Read more...] about The next version of ‘Internet safety’: A look under the hood
Of young people’s (not just digital) citizenship
This being Digital Citizenship Week in the US, here's a view of it that isn't typically heard by parents and K-12 educators here. It's the view from youth themselves, as captured by scholars in the new book Wired Citizenship: Youth Learning and Activism in the Middle East, edited by Linda Herrera at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Routledge 2014). I hope that – even though entire … [Read more...] about Of young people’s (not just digital) citizenship
At the IGF: Youth participation = greater youth e-safety
One of the best things about participating in the Internet Governance Forum is seeing the growing youth participation in sessions about their online protection. And one of the best things I've heard so far, after just 1.5 days of the IGF here in Istanbul this week came from Danish 15-year-old Olivia in a session about "Child Online Protection" where there was much discussion about technical, legal … [Read more...] about At the IGF: Youth participation = greater youth e-safety