Call for pre-conference ECREA 2020: Workshop on ethics and children’s rights in the digital age

The Children, Youth and Media section of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) invites participation in a workshop dedicated to children’s rights and ethical issues raised by research with young people. On 6 September 2021, Eva Lievens (Ghent University) and Elisabeth Staksrud (University of Oslo) will lead the discussions within the pre-conference to which MILObs joins the local organisation.

This event aims to engage participants interactively in a fruitful dialogue on ethics and children’s rights. The webinar will take a workshop format and invites stakeholders to have a voice, before and during the pre-conference. Thus, participants are encouraged to send their questions in advance (in the English language) to two researchers, who will address other critical issues – children’s ethics and digital rights and ethics in research with children. Those interested can submit their questions by filling in the registration form or send them separately to cym.ecrea2020@gmail.com until 31 August.

The speakers will consider questions, and the webinar will include moments for discussion. For a summary of the issues at stake:

• Children’s digital ethics and rights: Thirty years ago, the UN Convention did not foresee the rapid pace of digital evolution and the related challenges children and families face. Since then, the digital landscape has become increasingly accessible for younger generations and decisions to keep children safe online has created tensions between the rights to protection and participation. Considering some polarised debates, controversies about the inevitability of digital in children’s lives, and seeking a balanced approach, researchers shall discuss and reflect on the ethics regarding children’s protection, participation, and rights. How are these rights transferred to the digital? What changes in the digital sphere? How can we adequately think about these rights, i.e. right to privacy, image rights and the right to personal representation?
• Ethics in research with children: When researching with children and young people, ethical issues arise at all stages of the project life cycle that invite reflexivity. Issues related to trust arise when: i) establishing contact with children and young people. Requirements may differ depending on the country, research site and groups we want to research. ii) building a relationship and seeking to negotiate consent to speak with children and young people, and explaining issues related to anonymity and confidentiality. iii) seeking to keep and use children and young people’s photographs and videos as research outputs (safety, misuse, dissemination). iv) involving children and young people in data analysis and dissemination of findings.

Programme:

10h00 – Welcome to participants

10h15 – Talk on Ethics and Digital Rights, by Eva Lievens

10h45 – Talk on Ethical Challenges in doing Research with Children, by Elisabeth Staksrud

11h15 – Sharing and discussion

12h00 – Closing

Registration:

Registration is open until 31 August via this form.

Organiser:

Children, Youth and Media (CYM) Section (cym.ecrea2020@gmail.com)

Local organisers:

Sara Pereira (ICS / University of Minho, CECS)

Cristina Ponte (FCSH / Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, ICNOVA)

Teresa Sofia Castro (FCSH / Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, ICNOVA)

Pedro Moura (ICS / University of Minho, CECS)

[Posted: 11-06-2021]