Winter 2025 EDUC3P40 Week 5: LSE Blogs by

Yvonne M.

ymessenger2 — 2025-02-03 00:32:17 UTC

This blog post discusses how legislation in different countries and how companies are figuring out what "in the best interests of the child" means for them. I found this interesting because we need to protect children and ensure that technology is not causing them harm. So I was pleased to see both countries and companies beginning to deal with these issues.

Shelby V

2025-02-06 00:43:38 UTC

The main idea of this blog was to address the dire need for deep conversations about the best interests of children, not just jumping to the conclusion of what society thinks would be best simply from an idea. I found this interesting as the talk of bans have only been present for a short time, and I was unaware about the lack of support from the community as well as the lack of openness to hear others' opinions on this matter.

Siobhan S.

2025-02-06 00:43:49 UTC

This blog post explores how education systems can foster child empowerment by doing things such as recognizing children as active rights holders, using digital literacy, addressing inequalities, and creating inclusive environments!

Adri Capistrano

2025-02-06 00:43:53 UTC

Main idea: social media has the ability to show negative/harmful content to youth, so parents should keep open lines of communication with their kids, recognize that social media has both good and bad sides, and create boundaries with their child. Social media platforms also need to realize that preventing harm means being proactive not reactive.

This interested me because there are so many deaths by suicide due to social media, especially for teens and youth, so I wanted to see the tactics parents are using to keep their kids safe online

Payton A

2025-02-06 00:43:58 UTC

The blog examines how regulations shape children's online experiences, comparing protection against limiting opportunities. It raises concerns about privacy laws, content restrictions, and how platforms influence young users. This topic is interesting because it highlights the challenge of balancing digital safety with access to learning, creativity, and socialization.

Hannah K

2025-02-06 00:43:59 UTC

The article emphasizes the necessity of adopting a children's rights-based approach to integrating AI in education, highlighting both the potential benefits—such as personalized learning and improved accessibility—and the significant risks, including data-related harms and exacerbation of existing inequalities. It calls for effective regulation and robust evaluation frameworks to ensure that AI tools enhance learning experiences without compromising children's rights. This topic is interesting because it explores the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility in education. AI has the potential to revolutionize learning by offering personalized experiences and greater accessibility, but without proper safeguards, it could also reinforce existing inequalities and pose serious risks to children's data privacy. The discussion of a children's rights-based approach adds a compelling dimension, emphasizing the need for regulations that prioritize student well-being rather than just technological advancement. This raises important questions about how we can harness AI's benefits while ensuring that it serves all students fairly and equitably.

Taylor O.

2025-02-06 00:44:02 UTC

^{The blog highlights that while children face online risks, not all lead to harm, advocating for policies that minimize harm while balancing safety and digital opportunities.}

^{This blog was interesting because it challenges the belief that all online risks harm children, emphasizing resilience and the need to reduce harm without limiting valuable opportunities.}

Andrea B.

2025-02-06 00:44:05 UTC

The blog post advocates for a balanced approach to smartphone use in schools, suggesting that policies promoting responsible use may be more beneficial than bans. I was interested in this because my school never had a phone ban or considered one. So I was interested to read about the benefits and challenges phones bring to the classroom.

Zack & Aysha

2025-02-06 00:44:38 UTC

This blog post discusses concepts relating to social meida safety and the ever growing relationship between mental health and social media use. The blog touches on the response from various social media platforms after learning that social media, and negative use of it, contributed to a 14-year old's death. For example, self-harm videos were then banned on instagram to continue to deepen the message surrounding mental health and social media usage.

Raquel W

2025-02-06 00:44:56 UTC

It's possible that exposing kids to some controlled dangers makes them more "resilient," enabling them to identify, control, and bounce back from dangerous online situations.

Kaela-Rose Patz

2025-02-06 00:44:57 UTC

This has been a long debate, and although many might argue phones should be banned in classrooms, it would be very difficult. Incorporating technology into the curriculum also has many benefits. The most effective measure would be to get the voices of students, parents, and teachers on the matter and what they think are acceptable policies.

Dallas M.

2025-02-06 00:45:09 UTC

The blog I read was about if the phone ban is a good idea. They found it can be helpful for less advantaged students but need to be flexible depending on the situation, they need to take views of parents, students, and teachers into account. I found this interesting because the phone ban is something my younger siblings are being influenced by.

Devon H

2025-02-06 00:45:11 UTC

The UK's Online Safety Act and Ofcom's guidelines are criticized in the article for failing to adequately protect children online by putting corporate interests ahead of smaller platform risks. The article sparked my interest because it demonstrated how weak online safety regulations may be, and it got me thinking about how large tech companies shape laws meant to safeguard children.

Rachael

2025-02-06 00:45:23 UTC

This article talks about the ways children cannot recognize the difference between entertainment and advertisements through influencers online presence. This is interesting to me because the whole topic of influencers and social media's impacts on children is very intriguing and important in today's society.

Avery b

2025-02-06 00:45:50 UTC

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2024/10/03/does-the-evidence-support-a-school-ban-on-smartphones/

This blog touches on the push for a smart phone ban being put in place in many school in the UK. This interested me as I know I will have to deal with similar issues regarding safety and cell phone usage in my future as a teacher, and wanted to read up on what the possible struggles of issuing a ban or not issuing a ban might look like.

Tia

2025-02-06 00:45:55 UTC

This blog post shares the impact digital platforms have on children, specifically being sexually exploitative. It shared how many children are more likely to be targeted for sexual exploitation through social media than in prison. This was seen as a direct result of over-sharing and over-reliance on posting photos rapidly and without parental control or knowledge.

Emily H

2025-02-06 00:45:56 UTC

This blog post discusses the need for child empowerment in relation to the growing digital landscape that they are getting sucked in to at earlier ages. The author describes the positive aspects of empowering children and the change they can bring about in our society. The blog then goes on to discuss strategies that educators can use in their classrooms to help build children's sense of empowerment in the digital world they now live in.

Daelyn T.

2025-02-06 00:46:13 UTC

The UK government has recommended that teachers and administrators ban smartphones in schools. However, this blog article states that this perspective oversimplifies this nuanced issue. While restrictions can help improve learning, policies should identify the problem, find the right words, develop a holistic approach, be inclusive and consult the school community.

Leah M

2025-02-06 00:46:15 UTC

It is discussed how how families are constantly being platformaized. With so many new apps, families are dependent on apps as a form of communication, check to see where one another along coordinating plans. I found this to be interesting as there is so much power embedded in this and families are so dependent on these apps now. These apps control parents and ultimately reshape how they live and parent.

Katelyn Brooks

2025-02-06 00:46:22 UTC

The ySKILLS project highlights the importance of digital literacy in promoting children's wellbeing and rights in the digital age, showing that it is essential for navigating the online environment safely and effectively. The research emphasizes the need for a collaborative effort to ensure all children develop these skills, as unequal access or lack of digital education can hinder their rights and oppportunities.

Courtney

2025-02-06 00:46:28 UTC

This blog post discusses how children frequently confuse advertisements and entertainment. Specifically, it noted how many influencers fail to properly label sponsored content, making it difficult for children to spot advertisement's. I found this to be interesting as so many children have access to the internet these days.

Kate Meyer

2025-02-06 00:47:06 UTC

This blog post discusses the UK government's (and countries globally) recommendation to restrict students' smartphone usage. The blog post highlights different responses; from parents confusion due to the increase of technology necessity in the real world, to teachers frustrations as the policy only extends across the school, yet does not control students' usage at home.

Hailey Shannon

2025-02-06 00:47:12 UTC

This blog post is about how banning smartphones is resulting in students doing better in their academics and learning. This is especially true for students who are struggling most, and how the school's goal is to have the best interest of the child. This is being discussed to help protect students from the damaging aspects of digital technology, with the hopes of creating a safer and more beneficial world online and in school environments.

Emma C.

2025-02-06 00:47:26 UTC

This blog post highlights the idea of parents using baby apps to "parent" their child. These platforms are shaping family life, influencing children's behaviour as well as transforming family relationships. I chose this blog because I was interested to see if there is an actual value in using baby apps & toys to teach you children things. Looking to see if baby apps/toys could be actually beneficial or cause more harm than good.

Payton. B

2025-02-06 00:47:29 UTC

The article discusses how the principle of the best interests of the child is applied in the digital world, referencing legal frameworks. It critiques corporate efforts, questioning whether tech companies can truly uphold children's rights. The authors introduce the Digital Futures for Children Centre, which aims to ensure evidence-based advocacy and proper interpretation of children's rights in digital spaces. They stress the need for clear guidance to prevent the misuse of this principle and to protect children's broader rights online.

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2024/02/06/identifying-the-best-interests-of-the-child-in-relation-to-the-digital-environment/

Chloe

2025-02-06 00:47:40 UTC

This blog post discusses the very unfortunate reality that kids in many countries are at an increased risk for sexual exploitation through online platforms. I was interested in this because given how often kids are using technology and the younger the kids are when given access to these devices, it is crucial that we are working at ways to protect kids from these risks.

Izzy T

2025-02-06 00:47:46 UTC

The blog "Tech Tantrums" discusses the growing concerns surrounding the unchecked influence of the tech industry, particularly artificial intelligence. It critiques the idea of "tech exceptionalism" and stresses the importance of regulating technology to protect privacy, democracy, and public health. This is interesting to me as a future educator, as it highlights the impact of technology on society and the necessity for responsible tech integration in educational environments. Educators must consider how tech policies shape students' lives and learning, making discussions around tech ethics vital in the classroom.

Reann L.

2025-02-06 00:47:52 UTC

Main Idea: how digital platforms are increasingly shaping family life and why this matters. the author argues that families are more often living their lives through digital platforms and highlights the power of platforms to set rules, gather data, and influence behaviours.

I find this interesting because i have never heard of the term "pjatformization". it is now on the rise and something we have never seen before, affecting many aspects of family interactions such as using parenting apps.

Christina

2025-02-06 00:48:01 UTC

The main idea of this blog is to shape how AI can be used to benefit children with learning as a tool. It mentioned how effective it is to regulate the use of AI so it can be manageable in providing students with representative knowledge. It makes sure that children's rights and ethics are being taken into consideration when using AI for learning. What was interesting to me was that AI can be used as a good option to retaining knowledge. Since it will be around and students will find a way to use it making sure to embed it in a safe way is key.

Brooklyn U

2025-02-06 00:48:15 UTC

This blog post explains the impact of AI education can that if children are going to be using AI as a resource for they need to have an understanding of the risks of AI as well as the benefits. There is also a concern that child will lose their right to privacy with the use of AI, as child's right are what come first.

Brooke R

2025-02-06 00:48:50 UTC

This blog was about how fundamental it is for children to develop critical media skills at a young age. This is a way to maximize the childs online opportunities and minimize their online risks.

Drew K

2025-02-06 00:48:56 UTC

The Blog I looked at discussed that with the increased incorporation of digital platforms such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning environments, it is important to take into account one's human rights and how that can affect a child. It discusses how it needs to be ensured that AI successfully does its job of creating an inclusive empowering future for every child that engages with the program. As well as ensuring its promise to educators such as reducing teachers marking loads in educational settings. However, there must also be awareness of the potential negatives of AI.

Gracie G.

2025-02-06 00:49:01 UTC

This post analyzes the influence of young student's dependency on technology in their learning throughout the pandemic. Advantages were mentioned, such as accessibility during lockdowns as well as their developed navigation of online programs. However, the post also discusses dangers, such as loss of childhood and extreme dependency.

Sage, Paris and Kylee

2025-02-06 00:49:14 UTC

This blog post explores how digital platforms are transforming family life by shaping communication, relationships, and behaviours, while raising concerns about power dynamics, privacy and autonomy.

This interested us because it highlights how digital platforms are quietly shaping family dynamics, from communication to decision making, and raises important questions about what the future of family life might look like.

Breanne

2025-02-06 00:50:10 UTC

This blog discusses the topic of restricting student phone use in schools. It concludes that implementing these restrictions help with student engagement and emphasizes student learning, but that there should also be a balance with allowing phone use in positive ways. I found this interesting as I do see both sides to this issue and I do believe that there is a way to incorporate phone use into the classroom while still having guidelines in place to ensure that education is the main focus.

Jillian Todd and Abby V

2025-02-06 00:51:01 UTC

The blog I read was about the challenges educators face when implementing educational technology into classrooms. The research highlights difficulties in ensuring that the tools are effective for children's learning and foster the curriculum.

Kaitlyn

2025-02-06 01:11:04 UTC

This blog addresses the topic The Digital Age of Consent. It addresses the age at witch youth are entitled to sigh up for social media and internet services without specific authorization from their parents. The age range is around 13-16.