April 7, 2015 (Cambridge, MA) - The Berkman Center for Internet & Society and Youth and Media are excited to announce the release of the new ebook “Digitally Connected: Global Perspectives on Youth and Digital Media,” a first-of-its kind collection of essays that offers reflections from diverse perspectives on youth experiences with digital media and with focus on the Global South. It creatively combines adult voices with written and visual contributions by young people from around the world.
The ebook is available for download at no cost at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2585686
In this unique ebook, more than 30 academics, practitioners, government officials, tech industry representatives and activists team up with 25 youth contributors to share their views and opinions about digital technologies and the impact the Internet has on young people’s lives. Collectively, the contributors address a series of big questions related to youth and digital media by exploring key topics such as safety and wellbeing; identity, privacy and reputation; skills, literacies, and cultures of learning; creativity; innovation and entrepreneurship; participation and civic engagement; and youth participation and policy.
“By making these diverse reflections and youth contributions available to the public, we hope to continue and further stimulate the global conversation about both the challenges and opportunities children and youth face online,” said Urs Gasser, executive director of the Berkman Center and the book’s co-editor.
The ebook is an output of Digitally Connected, an initiative incubated by the Berkman Center in collaboration with UNICEF that brings together a network of people from around the world who, together, are addressing the challenges and opportunities children and youth encounter in the digital environment.
“The heart and soul of Digitally Connected is this amazing group of people from all around the globe. Together we aspire to make the Internet an even better place and experience for all children and youth,” said Sandra Cortesi, director of Youth and Media and the book’s co-editor.
Digitally Connected was launched in April 2014 at a first-of-its-kind international symposium on children, youth, and digital media co-hosted by the Berkman Center and UNICEF, in collaboration with PEW Internet, EU Kids Online, the Internet Society (ISOC), the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), and YouthPolicy.org. This event was followed by “Conectados al Sur,” a regional (Latin America and Caribbean) symposium on child and youth digital citizenship co-hosted by Argentina’s Ministry of Justice and Human Rights through the National Directorate for Personal Data Protection, UNICEF Argentina (with the support of the Division of Communication at UNICEF headquarters), and the Berkman Center. The goal of both events was to debate the challenges and opportunities youth encounter online, map and explore the global and regional state of relevant research and practice, share and discuss global insights and ideas, and encourage collaboration between participants across regions and continents. With a particular focus on voices and issues from the Global South, the events addressed topics such as inequitable access, risks to safety and privacy, skills and digital literacy, spaces for participation, civic engagement, and innovation.
About Digitally Connected
Digitally Connected is a collaborative initiative between UNICEF and the Berkman Center building upon a multi-year partnership for analysing digital and social media growth and trends among children and youth globally. Digitally Connected is a network consisting of academics, practitioners, young people, activists, philanthropists, government officials, and representatives of technology companies from around the world. Together, they are addressing the challenges and opportunities children and youth encounter in the digital environment. {digitallyconnected.org}
About Youth and Media
Youth and Media encompasses an array of research, advocacy, and development initiatives around youth and digital technology. Located at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Youth and Media draws on the knowledge of and experience with various interdisciplinary backgrounds, including psychology, ethnography, sociology, education, media theory, and the law. Through these combined approaches, Youth and Media centers the voices and experiences of youth to research and cultivate the creative, educational, and revolutionary possibilities of youth activity in digital space while addressing the genuine concerns that come with living life online. {youthandmedia.org}
About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society
Since its founding in 1997, the Berkman Center has been at the forefront of the field of Internet and Society, pursuing a unique mix of interdisciplinary scholarship and engagement with legal and policy issues. We are home to a diverse group of scholars, policy experts, and advocates focused on the identification of emerging problems related to digitally-networked society and the search for solutions. We are committed to tackling the most important challenges of the digital age, to think big, to act with ambition and humility, to maintain academic rigor while keeping a focus on tangible real-world impact, and to serve the public interest. As a University-wide Center, the Berkman Center informs and engages in the public interest through four core activities: conducting research, building tools and platforms, education, and creating and cultivating networks. {cyber.harvard.edu}
Contact
For questions or media inquiries, please contact Youth and Media Director Sandra Cortesi at scortesi@cyber.harvard.edu.
