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As children and teens spend more and more time online, we need to improve the safeguards in place to keep them safe and healthy. A generation of young people is growing up online, a reality that is shaping their opportunities and risks.
For today's children and teens, an ecosystem of internet-connected devices, apps, and platforms is as much a ubiquitous part of daily life as the school cafeteria or the playground.
o Research has shown that children as young as 2 years old use a mobile device daily, while over 90% of 1-year-olds have used a mobile device.
o 97% often report using the internet daily and almost half say they use it "almost constantly."
o 95% often have access to a smartphone.
This digital ecosystem has brought with it new opportunities to learn, socialize, and grow that benefit young people in important ways. For instance, the internet has provided space for community building for young people with shared experiences, backgrounds, or cultures to connect and build resilience.
Navigating Digital Challenges Despite its critical importance to their growth and development, today's digital ecosystem was not designed with young people in mind. Families face huge headwinds using technology platforms that aim to maximize profit and user engagement, goals at odds with a developmentally appropriate approach to technology.
Data collection from children and teens on a vast scale allows companies to monitor, track, and target young people with advertisements and content that exploits their developmental vulnerabilities for commercial gain. The objective of this project is to bring awareness among the Family and young children who are potential targets of abuse digital activities. It will consist of lectures, workshops, therapy, and individual discussion sessions. Estimated budget is $2000 to cover the costs of speaker's appreciation, Banner for event lecture materials, projector, Journal publications and technological logistics.
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