Building a better internet for children: How-to guide launched
Researchers from QUT have today launched a comprehensive guide to creating an internet more suitable to the needs of children and far removed from the current content free-for-all.
The Manifesto for a Better Children's Internet is the result of a two-year project by researchers from the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for the Digital Child. It highlights 17 actionable principles, including the development of quality standards for age-appropriate content, a move away from over reliance on 'parental control' and promotion of media literacy.
QUT research fellow Dr. Aleesha Rodriguez said the idea of the "Children's Internet" included the many ways children access and use digital products and services.
"Right now, it's the wild west when it comes to children's internet experience as tech companies create kids' versions of popular apps and social media, digital resources get labeled as 'educational' without scrutiny, and anyone can upload content for 'for children' without oversight to what that means," Dr. Rodriguez said.
"Talking about a 'Children's Internet' provides an important, unifying concept that helps everyone—including industry, government, parents, and caregivers, and beyond—understand the need for a societal response to this challenge."
Dr. Rodriguez said while online experiences were now central to children's lives, providing pivotal input on how they learn and play, the current design of the internet was not well-suited to them.
"Products, services, and experiences on the internet are often commercialized, largely self-regulated, and governed by opaque systems. They can also pose the risk of exploitative, risky, and problematic experiences," Dr. Rodriguez added.
"We need to do better if we want children to have fun, productive, safe, and ethical experiences online."
QUT researcher Professor Michael Dezuanni said the Manifesto provided practical principles that could help re-design the internet with children front of mind.
"Parents and caregivers must do a lot of work to keep children safe online. Our Manifesto aims to lessen this burden by challenging key groups to take action to improve the internet for children," Professor Dezuanni said.
"In launching the Manifesto, we are calling for industry, government, and community leaders to take responsibility for enacting meaningful change to achieve better outcomes for children."
Professor Dezuanni said there were six areas that "made up" the "Children's Internet": Access, Imaginaries, Entertainment, Education, Regulation and Participation.
The 17 principles outlined in the Manifesto for a Better Children's Internet include:
- The development of quality standards for age-appropriate entertainment and educational products and services for children.
- More investment in locally produced, diverse, and highly quality entertainment and educational products and services for children and families.
- Avoiding the tech entrepreneurial philosophy of 'move fast and break things' when developing products and services for children.
- A move away from the over-reliance on "parental controls" as the solution to managing or improving children's online experiences.
- Legislation to ensure the recognition and protection of children's digital labor.
- The promotion of media literacy to support children's fun, productive, safe, diverse, and ethical internet experiences.
More information:
Manifesto for a Better Children's Internet—Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. www.digitalchild.org.au/workin … /childrens-internet/
Provided by Queensland University of Technology