Designing for Digital Well-being: Frameworks for Optimizing Positive Media Experiences for Children and Families

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Much of the conversation around children’s use of technology focuses on the potential risks and harms of exploring the digital world. While protecting children is an essential focus, it cannot be the only one. As children’s lives become increasingly digital, we have an obligation and an opportunity to reframe the discussion using a whole child approach, in support of children’s ability to learn, create, connect, play, and, more broadly, in support of “well-being” – a state inclusive of happiness, health, safety, and comfort. There is also an opportunity to apply developmental science to better understand and inform the creation of technology that supports well-being. Digital well-being has been defined to include, for example, social connection, creativity, and empowerment (UNICEF, 2022); however, questions remain about how best to apply these developmental constructs to digital spaces and assess how digital environments can promote positive outcomes. This conversational roundtable brings together multidisciplinary experts in social-emotional learning in children’s media; learning through games; youth co-design of technology; and inclusive technology design. We will address questions around how developmental science can help identify opportunities and pathways to design equitable, accessible, and enriching digital experiences for children and families. The roundtable will be moderated by Medha Tare, Senior Director of Research of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
Panelists:
Amanda LaTasha Armstrong, New Mexico State University; New America
Bruce Homer, The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Remi Torres, University of California, Los Angeles; Sesame Workshop
Jason Yip, University of Washington, Seattle

Sub Unit

• Technology, Media & Child Development

Moderator

• Medha Tare, Sesame Workshop

Panelists

• Bruce D Homer, The Graduate Center, CUNY

• Jason Yip, University of Washington

• Amanda LaTasha Armstrong, New America

• Remi Torres, Sesame Workshop