Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

2.26.10 | A new report from Harvard’s Youth and Media Policy Working Group at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society summarizes current research on kids and media safety, privacy and quality.

Parents, teachers and those who care about how to help kids navigate the new media landscape should check out the response paper released this week by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser, co-authors of “Born Digital,” and danah boyd, a contributor to “Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out.”

Authors are responding to a Notice of Inquiry (PDF) just issued by the FCC which asks for information on “the extent to which children are using electronic media today, the benefits and risks these technologies bring for children, and the ways in which parents, teachers, and children can help reap the benefits while minimizing the risks.”

In addition to providing details on data in three research areas—risky behaviors and online safety; privacy, publicity and reputation; and information dissemination and youth-created content and quality of information—the Berkman report spells out real areas of concern, such as the growing participation gap, and suggests policy solutions.

The authors also point to the benefits of electronic media for young people in and out of the classroom:

As we seek to protect youth from the unforeseen risks of online engagement, it is essential that we do not in turn foreclose the benefits made possible by self‐directed, informal learning and socializing through new technologies or experimentation with teaching using new technologies in the classroom.

More information is available at the Berkman Center.