STUDIES / RESEARCH: Children’s online experiences in socially disadvantaged families: European evidence and policy recommendations

Very interesting study by EU Kids online on children's online use and online expression!

Read on!

Over the last years the EU Kids Online-Network has presented a wide range of empirical evidence on children's online use and online experiences. Within this field special attention has to be paid to socially disadvantaged children, because they are more vulnerable to different kinds of harm resulting from online risks than other children.

This report summarises findings on social disadvantage from the EU Kids Online II dataset and from other studies conducted in countries belonging to the EU Kids Online network in recent years. This is complemented by results of a long term study dealing with the media socialisation of socially disadvantaged children in Austria. The conclusion provides recommendations on how to support socially disadvantaged children and adolescents in making better experiences with the internet.

Access and use are the main topics of almost all the studies covered, but for Europe we can state that a lack of access to the internet is not the key problem. This is different, however, for countries like Brazil or Russia. In Europe children and adolescents differ in the way they use the internet and they have different preferences concerning content, e.g. a stronger interest in entertainment.

The educational background of the family (which correlates highly with the economic well-being of a family) plays the major role influencing the different ways the internet is used. Children of lower educated parents are often left alone when dealing with the internet.

Full study

NEWS: Call for Experts and Journalists to Join the European Platform Media4change

Experts from journalism, human rights and several other fields are invited to register on Media4change.co and join a media community with high standards. This online platform is part of the project “Address of Human Rights- Journalism”the National Institute for Social Integration (NSII) in which Media Diversity is one of the partners.

They are looking for people who are willing to cooperate in carrying out journalistic investigations on topics such as human rights, equality and diversity; and who want to draw attention to the problems of their field and communities or provide methodological material for journalists.

NSII is also inviting young aspiring, as well as professional journalists, editors and media experts to join the new movement. The Lithuanian organisation seeks to create and apply social innovations to support people’s integration from various socially vulnerable groups within the diverse society.

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TOOLS / ONLINE SEMINARS: Video news in the classroom

The European network “Viducate” will offer another free online course for educators from all sectors. 

"Video News" will give you an introduction of how to bring simple video ideas into your classroom. It will include introduction exercises but also ideas to develop your own news programme together with your group or class. Tutorials will help you to get into basic video production and sharing.

The course will be done on an online platform and everything will be asynchronous. You can choose the timing when you want to work on the tasks. Activities will start at the end of September and will go over a period of roughly six weeks. You will get an electronic certificate if you will have managed to do all main tasks.

Check the Viducate website for course updates and contact Armin Hottmann directly if you are interested in participating in the sessions.

Source - Viducate website

ARTICLES: Child safety measures to protect against internet threats

If you are reading this on Christmas Day, there is a good chance you are excitedly trying out a brand new computer, or maybe a fancy smartphone.

You will not be surprised to learn you are not alone - internet-enabled devices have been selling in their millions in the run up to Christmas. Many have been bought by parents eager to please their technology-hungry children.

For younger kids, today could be the first time they get their hands on their own computer or mobile.

It is a situation that can understandably leave parents feeling worried.

full article

NEWS / ONLINE SAFETY: Protecting Children Online

Whether it is identity theft, online tracking, or profiling, the Internet can be an open door to a child's personal information. A Wall Street Journal investigation into online privacy last year found that popular children's websites install more tracking technologies on personal computers than do the top websites aimed at adults. 

According to recent research by Consumer Reports, one million children were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying on Facebook in the past year -- and that's just one social media site. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says 8 percent of the ID theft complaints in 2010 involved children.

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NEWS / AWARDS: Best Children's Online Content European Award 2011 - winners announced

The Best Children's Online Content competition was launched in October 2010. Between November 2010 and April 2011 the competition ran at national level in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

The winners of the national competitions were nominated to compete for the European Award. A European jury, led by Professor Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics (LSE), and coordinator of the EU Kids Online project, selected the winners of the European Awards.

more info

OPPORTUNITIES / TRAINING: Free Online Short Course on “Youth and the MDGs”

Free Online Short Course on "Youth and the MDGs"

Brought to you by UNFPA, Youth Dividend & Youth Action for Change

Register Now (SEE BELOW)!

Course Dates: 1^st August, 2011 to 28^th August 2011

Course Description:

This course is designed for young people aged 18-30 who are actively involved in making a difference in their communities. The course aims to help its participants learn about the UN's 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), their specific targets, and their importance as a framework for global development. The course will then focus on how young people can work towards contributing to the MDGs, what can be done locally, and the potential for young people to make a difference. The course will be led by young professionals from UNDP and UNFPA and will also draw on local experts from UNDP and other UN organizations and will combine theoretical and practical knowledge. The course will be restricted to 40 participants chosen by application – preference is given to participants who are active in their communities and who intend to use the course material to help them make a difference in their communities. Participants must be able to attend all sessions of the course and complete homework tasks in order to obtain a certificate of completion. Participants must also have regular internet access (at least 5 hours per week) to join course sessions. Students who may also be disadvantaged are also encouraged to apply.

About the course sponsors:

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and youth to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

Youth Action for Change is a global, youth-led organization inspiring and empowering young people worldwide to become active agents of change in their own communities, so as to be able to tackle the issues affecting them and the world at large.

Youth Dividend is a dynamic youth led organization in Pakistan working to develop, inform, inspire and mobilize young people through leadership training, peer education, awareness raising, skill building, policy and advocacy.

Application (HOW TO APPLY):

Register your interest in participating in this online course by reading the YAC student guide attached and completing the online application form at [ http://kwiksurveys.com?u=MDGCourseAugust ] by the 15^th July. Successful participants will be notified by the 22^nd July, 2011.

Our student guide can also be downloaded here [ http://tinyurl.com/2brn6dm ]

ARTICLES: Online youth need critical thinking skills

Online youth need critical thinking skills

by Larry Magid

I both envy and worry about young people who are growing up in the age of the Internet.

I envy them for their lifelong access to a media that's diversified enough to bring them news, information, and opinion from an enormous number of sources.

There's something to be said for having access to thousands of media outlets. Unlike those of us who grew up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, young people who smartly use the Internet to consume news today don't have to worry about everything being filtered by a small, elite, and typically white male cadre of journalists working for one of only three broadcast networks or one or two local newspapers. And it's no longer a one-way street. Today's news consumers can also be producers thanks to blogs, social-networking sites, YouTube, podcasting, and microblogs like Twitter.

full article

ONLINE SAFETY: New Ofcom campaign launched

Ofcom has today launched a campaign to help keep children safe online during the summer holidays.

The internet offers a range of opportunities for fun, learning and development at the click of a mouse, but it’s important that parents, carers and children have the right skills and information to help keep them safe online.

· Two-thirds of 5-7 year olds now use the internet at home, rising to over three-quarters of 8-11 year olds and over four-fifths of 12-15s.

· Of these, one fifth of 5-7 year olds use the internet without an adult present, as do almost half of 8-11 year olds and two-thirds of 12-15s.

· 12-15 year olds say they spend an average of nearly 14 hours a week online.

· Over a third of 12-15 year olds say they mostly access the internet in their bedroom. During this time they could encounter inappropriate or even potentially harmful content.

Find out what you can do to help children enjoy the internet safely this summer by watching or reading Ofcom’s guide to show parents and carers how to use parental controls and filters to manage their children’s access to digital TV and internet content. The guide also encourages parents and carers to talk to their children about what they do on the internet and how to use it safely.

The video and guide can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/media/

RESEARCH: Nielsen: Kids spending more time online

Nielsen: Kids spending more time online

By BARBARA ORTUTAY – 22 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Young kids are getting online at a faster rate than their parents and older siblings.

A new study from Nielsen Online found that nearly 16 million U.S. children ages 2 to 11 were online in May. They made up about 9.5 percent of Internet users.

The youngest of the set — 2, 3, and 4-year-olds — probably aren't yet updating their Twitter accounts with 140-character messages, or posting quiz results to Facebook. Rather, they are sitting in a parent's lap in front of a computer, being exposed to the Internet that way, said Peter Grunwald, president of Grunwald Associates LLC, which specializes in researching kids and technology.

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