Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC)

🎉 Welcome, 2025! As we step into the new year, all of us at the Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC) are reflecting on key milestones from 2024. Here are 5 highlights we’re excited to share: 1️⃣ Guiding principles on tech-facilitated CSEA 🌐 Technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) requires clearer definitions and stronger responses. Our report details 6 guiding principles that professionals should employ. 📖 Access the full report here: eprints.lse.ac.uk/126219/ 2️⃣  Is the internet good for children? Professor Sonia Livingstone explores this critical question from a child rights lens. 💬"What's vital is a space of welcome, where children and young people can be heard." 🎥 Watch the discussion: https://lnkd.in/eyx7Xpw6  3️⃣ Smartphone policies in schools ❔ What does the evidence say about smartphones’ impact on classrooms and mental health? 📖Discover the research: eprints.lse.ac.uk/125554/ 4️⃣ Tech tantrums: public lecture Baroness Beeban Kidron makes a compelling case for prioritising AI in shaping our future. 💬 "It is hard not to conclude that tech is in the hands of private, not public interest." 🎥 Watch the lecture: https://lnkd.in/emqrYwhk 5️⃣ The impact of regulation on children's lives Steve Wood categorises digital regulations and highlights their effects on children’s everyday experiences. 💡 By-default mechanisms are more impactful than parental controls alone. 📖 Dive into the research here: eprints.lse.ac.uk/123522/ We’re proud of our work in 2024 and committed to creating a brighter, safer digital future for children in 2025. 5Rights The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) #ChildRights #DigitalRights #DigitalFutures4Children #DFC

Sonia Livingstone and Kim Sylwander, PhD have contributed to the Journal of Children and Media's special issue celebrating the journal's 18th birthday. The provocation piece entitled "There is no right age! The search for age-appropriate ways to support children's digital lives and rights" is now available via open access: https://lnkd.in/dcAsU3NE 5Rights The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

In this episode of Tech Shock Vicki is joined by professor Sonia Livingstone to discuss everything from regulation, generative AI, and child rights to the evidence behind raising the digital age of consent. Click to listen below: https://lnkd.in/d6MQBPUM

💡 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦 💡 Amongst others, Baroness Beeban Kidron and Professor Sonia Livingstone contributed to the Responsible Tech Guide 2024. The Responsible Tech Guide is an annual information and immersive document set up by non-profit All Tech is Human, which aims to build a global responsible tech network.   This year 3️⃣ key learning points include: 1️⃣ The pace of technology is moving rapidly. Major shifts include: - the development and accessibility of Generative AI;  - Trust and Safety shifting from a platform’s ‘in-house’ team to third-party services; and - the implementation of global tech regulations, including child safety. 2️⃣ ‘Youth Tech and Wellbeing’ is considered as one of the six pillars of responsible tech. Under this umbrella we find digital literacy, online safety and safe social media, amongst other elements. 3️⃣ To achieve a better tech future, decision makers need to consult children and young people: they should be at the heart of decision-making moving forward. 🔗 Click to read the full report: https://lnkd.in/epczDqkQ #DigitalFutures4Children #ChildSafety #ResponsibleTech 5Rights The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)   

📣Guiding principles for addressing technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse Read Digital Futures for Children centre (DFC) report working with researchers at the University of Cambridge, UNICEF Innocenti, University of Oxford, and Tech Legality 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dgCn3M6B

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 “The digital environment was not originally designed for children, yet it plays a significant role in children’s lives” (United Nations, General Comment 25, 2021). How do we ensure that children and young people are consulted in digital design? This is pertinent, particularly as digital spaces are becoming more inseparable from everyday life.   Join the IGF Workshop: Youth-Led Digital Futures: Integrating Perspectives and Governance. 📌 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Workshop Room 8 (Hybrid) 🗓️ Thursday 19th December 🕟 09:30 - 11:00 (GMT+03)   🔎Want to know more? https://lnkd.in/eK8hEcJ4 #IGF2024 #ChildRights #InternetGovernanceForum #GeneralComment25 #DigitalFutures4Children The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) 5Rights

🌐 Internet Governance Forum 2024 is now in full swing. 🗓️ TOMORROW catch these highlights: 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 "The Internet of Things offers many opportunities to make our everyday lives more convenient, safer and more efficient." (IGF, 2024) However, it also poses risks, especially for children and young people, who are vulnerable to many things the Internet of things facilitates - such as data collection and exposure to unsolicited content. Join Professor Sonia Livingstone and other experts on the roundtable discussion: "Dynamic Coalition (DC) on Children's Rights in the Digital Environment and DC on the Internet of Things". 📌 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Workshop Room 6 🗓️ Wednesday 18th December 🕟 11:30 - 13:00 (GMT +03)   🔎Want to know more, or join online? https://lnkd.in/epYScfcm 2️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 “In today's digital era […] the ability to critically navigate and adequately use media and digital content is crucial.” (Helsper, 2024) End users are essential to this digital era, and yet they are not the centre-point within digital governance. We must find ways to empower end-users in digital governance discussions and policies. Professor Ellen Helsper is the academic panellist and will discuss the following: - How can we change how we think about governance, which incorporates end-users? - What methods and technologies we can utilise? - How we can utlise digital governance for real change, that promotes a sustainable and equitable digital future? 📌 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lightning Talk Room Area 🗓️ Wednesday 18th December 🕟 11:00 to 12:30 (UTC +3) 🔎Want to know more, or join online? https://lnkd.in/edwjKim7 The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) 5Rights #IGF2024 #ChildRights #InternetGovernanceForum #digitalfutures4children

In the context of current debates over UK #DataProtection #DUABill #DataBill #DPDIBill, it's vital to consider #ChildRights including at school, where children have little or no choice... #DigitalFutures4Children proposes a blueprint here @5rightsfound https://lnkd.in/eTWwnvQB

👾 Epic Games announce new safety features for Fortnite to protect players' personal information and expand their reporting system. These text chat safety measures will introduce: 🏠 A 'personal information' filter intended to remove information like email addresses and banking details. 🤬 An updated 'mature language' filter to remove more toxic & inappropriate language. ✉️ An expanded reporting system that now allows players to submit text chat messages as evidence. 📚So what will this mean for the safety of its child users? https://lnkd.in/ehCTmsTJ #EpicGames #Fortnite #Filter #OnlineSafety #VideogameSafety

Last week Vicki was joined by Sonia Livingstone for a discussion about a wide range of topics – including generative AI, parental controls and the role of regulation. Listen below: https://lnkd.in/d6MQBPUM