Children Online: A Participatory Visual Approach

The present research note is an overview of a case study1 based on a series of inquiries into elementary and high school children’s online media use. In March 2012, a survey (N=761) showed that young people from a Transylvanian school2 had shifted online as their premier source of information, with no significant divide between rural and urban environments or between girls and boys .3 In June 2013, a focus group discussion suggested high school students’ critical attitude towards information and communication technology (ICT) use, with a strong sense of purpose and environmental awareness .4 In September 2013, a new series of inquiries set off, aimed at assessing 8–9-year-old children’s attitudes towards ICTs and the Internet. Participatory visual methods offered both unique data gathering opportunities and media education tools. Key results of the case study show striking similarities with the Net Children Go Mobile research findings:5 privatization of ICT access and use, and the pervasiveness of the Internet in children’s lives.