Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care

Pizzera, Michele; Pomey, Marion

Publication type:	Conference other
Type of review:	Not specified
Title:	Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care
Authors:	Pizzera, Michele Pomey, Marion
et. al:	No
Conference details:	17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023
Issue Date:	13-Sep-2023
Language:	English
Subjects:	Child and youth welfare; Residential care; Digital childhood; Digital media
Subject (DDC):	302.23: Media 362.7: Youth services
Abstract:	Objectives: When children enter residential care, they leave their familiar environment. Due to being (physically) further away from their family and friends they are potentially subject to social exclusion. Maintaining those relationships gets harder and digital media gains an increasing importance in their daily life (Burschel, Klein-Zimmer & Seckinger, 2022; Witzel, 2015). Often though children in residential care face restriction concerning digital media use and cannot sustain their previous relationships at the same level as before (Behnisch & Gerner, 2014; DigiPäd 24/7, 2022). Providing data for their digital self and maintaining their role in their previous social networks through digital media is crucial for social inclusion (Wunder, 2021). Sanctions and heavy restrictions by professionals can lead to bigger disadvantages and may enforce an already existing digital divide. Looking at the three basic principles in the UN convention of the right of the child - provision, participation and protection - in residential care the emphasis often lays on the latter. This is used as one of the main arguments to limit children’s access to digital spaces and thus limiting or even inhibiting agency and leading to (more) social exclusion. Methods: In the nationally funded Project «Childhood vulnerability and children’s understanding of well-being» (2021-2024) we aim to answer the questions about how children aged 8-14 understand and experience well-being, what’s important for their well-being and what makes them vulnerable. We conducted more than 50 interviews in three language regions of Switzerland with children who either participate in public child services or who are placed in residential care. Findings: In this presentation we’ll focus on residential care and will have a look at specific data concerning digital media used by children in residential care and connect it to well-being. The data gives insight into opportunities and risks, as well as into the regulations in residential care concerning digital media. Conclusions/Implications: The analysis shows a link between the well-being of children and youth and their use of digital media. Connections between digital media and the ability to maintain meaningful social relationships or social participation/inclusion can be shown. This poses some new questions to professionals: How can professionals handle digital media use in residential care so that children can be sufficiently protected and yet self-determined enough in digital media to increase social inclusion and without contributing to non-well-being and vulnerability? How can professionals implement regulations regarding digital media while still enabling children to maintain their relationships and participate in social activities and interactions connected to digital media?
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/28738
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Social Work
Organisational Unit:	Centre for Education, Development and Services (ZBES)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Verletzlichkeit und Wohlbefinden in der Kindheit
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Soziale Arbeit

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Pizzera, M., & Pomey, M. (2023, September 13). Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care. 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

Pizzera, M. and Pomey, M. (2023) ‘Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care’, in 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

M. Pizzera and M. Pomey, “Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care,” in 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023, Sep. 2023.

PIZZERA, Michele und Marion POMEY, 2023. Digital childhood : how digital media shapes well-being of children in residential care. In: 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023. Conference presentation. 13 September 2023

Pizzera, Michele, and Marion Pomey. 2023. “Digital Childhood : How Digital Media Shapes Well-Being of Children in Residential Care.” Conference presentation. In 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

Pizzera, Michele, and Marion Pomey. “Digital Childhood : How Digital Media Shapes Well-Being of Children in Residential Care.” 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023, 2023.