ARTICLES: Children's influence growing in digital age

Digital media such as social networks and mobile devices are giving children more influence than in previous generations, a new book argues.

Distinguished Professor John Hartley, of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) at QUT, said the prevalence of 'new media' had given children's actions and choices more significance.

In his book Digital Futures for Cultural and Media Studies, Professor Hartley said that as children engaged with one another and wider society online, they exerted a largely unseen, but growing influence.

"For example, children's online actions are already being closely tracked by business to determine their preferences in order to satisfy their demands for various products - and thus influence the course of industry," Professor Hartley said.

full article