The Kids Are Alright – Unpacking Some Fears About the Digital Lives of Children

Woodford Folk Festival

Join Aleesha, Daniel, and Pip for a discussion on digital childhoods!

The Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights, from Dec 27th through to January 1st. More than 2,000 local, national and international, artists, musicians and presenters grace the stages of Woodfordia.

At the 2024 Woodford Folk Festival, you can join delivering thought-provoking discussions and an interactive experience that explores critical digital media issues shaping our world produced by the DMRC from QUT.

Children live in a rapidly changing digital society. How do we make sure they live healthy, educated and connected lives while growing up online? This panel explores concerns and busts some common myths about the digital lives of children.

 

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Panel members

Dr Aleesha Rodriguez
Digital Media Research Centre & Digital Child
Dr Aleesha Rodriguez is a ‘tech-sociologist’ who explores the ways in which people and technology shape each other. Their background is in digital media communication and Science and Technology Studies (STS), and they are currently a Research Fellow at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child at QUT, exploring public imaginaries about future digital media technologies for children. Aleesha’s experience researching the social relationship between people and technology includes close examination of (big) batteries, digital platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, and Reddit, and other practices on the Internet. Their research is published in leading international media and communication journals as well as The Conversation, and they have presented on ABC Radio, TEDx, and national cultural events such as the Woodford Folk Festival.
Professor Daniel Angus
Digital Media Research Centre
Prof. Daniel Angus is Professor of Digital Communication in the School of Communication, and Director of QUT's Digital Media Research Centre. Daniel's research examines issues at the intersection of technology and society, with a focus on artificial intelligence, automation, misinformation, and new methods to study the digital society. Daniel has been involved in computer and social science research for 20 years and he contributes regularly to media and industry on the impact of technology on society.
Dr Philippa Amery
Digital Child
Philippa’s PhD focuses on first-time mothers and their babies to examine the organisation of everyday interactions around mobile device usage, and how mothers account for their everyday digital practices. Data consist of ethnographic observational data methods, including video data of mother-infant interaction, and mothers’ accounts. A feminist ethnomethodological lens will analyse mothers’ everyday practices around mothering and mobile device usage. A central aim of Philippa’s study is to understand what constitutes first-time mothers’ everyday digital practices to provide more nuanced accounts of mother-infant interaction and technology use.