How Can We Understand the Everyday Digital Lives of Children and Young People?

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter, introducing the present book on understanding the digital generation, first presents three different perspectives on technology and social change as (1) technological determinism, (2) social constructivism and (3) social shaping of technology. Second, the chapter introduces a conceptual model, derived from Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, for investigating and understanding why and how some children and young people seem to benefit from the use of digital technology while others are impacted negatively. This aim equals the overarching research question in DigiGen, a large-scale EU Horizon 2020 project between 2020–2022. The chapter further positions this research question in relation to digital divides, inequality, vulnerability, risk and human agency, the main theoretical concepts utilised in the analyses both in the project and in this book. Starting from the ‘microsystem’ level in ecological systems theory, the chapter reports highlights from novel research generated through the project on children and young people’s relationships, understandings and meaning making connected with use of digital technology within and across the family, for leisure, in school and on digital platforms offering opportunities for civic participation. The outline of the following chapters is then described with relation to the book’s main research question and the conceptual model.