Young voices take the lead in getting the balance right with digital technologies!  

The Stories by Digital Children competition has returned for Series 2, with entries now closed.   

In 2023, the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child launched Stories by Digital Children, a competition inviting young Australians aged 5-12 to share their views on digital media. Under the theme “Fun with digital media: Getting the balance right,” the competition inspired creativity, critical thinking, and healthy technology habits. Series 1 was led by Dr Amanda Levido, Professor Annette Woods, and Professor Michael Dezuanni.  

The winning entries were turned into illustrated story books for children, educators and parents to enjoy and learn from. The children selected as winning authors in Series 1 collaborated with children’s author Kim Maslin and illustrator Pheobe Zeng, to produce the books that offer creative and engaging insights into children’s digital experiences. 

Last year’s winning entries included: 

• ‘The Day Lucy and Leo are Tele-Sported’, written by Liesel Winkler and Kim Maslin. Illustrated by Phoebe Zeng. 
• ‘Digital Download’, by Dane Duigan and Kim Maslin. Illustrated by Phoebe Zeng. 
• ‘Seesaw’, by Florence Forrest-Jarman and Kim Maslin. Illustrated by Phoebe Zeng. 
• ‘Brick Needs a Break’, Jayden Choi and Kim Maslin. Illustrated by Phoebe Zeng.  

This initiative highlights the power of young voices in shaping responsible technology use.

The theme for Series 2 is ‘Getting the balance right: You decide what you share’  

In 2025, two additional Digital Child members, Dr Kristy Corser and Dr Elizabeth Heck have joined Dr Amanda Levido, Professor Annette Woods and Professor Michael Dezuanni for Series 2. We sought young authors from across the country to submit their story ideas for Series 2 focused on children engaging with issues related to permission, consent and privacy. The theme – Getting the balance right: You decide what you share – encouraged children to think about sharing information in the digital world. Sharing online can be fun and meaningful, but knowing what, when, and how to share, and the implications of sharing, is important even for young children. The 2025 authors, aged between 5 and 12 have submitted their story ideas about helping other children learn about sharing information online safely and the importance of protecting their personal and private identity, a skill that everyone needs to know in today’s world.  

This competition is not just about storytelling, though, it is about empowering young minds to think critically and creatively about their digital identity and to share knowledge with others in creative and relatable ways. The Stories by Digital Children series aims to assist children in developing a deep understanding of digital safety while also contributing to peer learning. Stories created by children for children engage an authenticity that resonates. Young readers can connect with lessons told by other children. In 2025, the children of the winning entries will have the opportunity to collaborate with an author and illustrator to see their story ideas come to life. Children will develop valuable skills while making an impact – they will influence how other children interact with the online world, fostering a culture of safety and awareness.  

Outside of the competition we encourage parents and educators to get involved in this year’s theme with their child/ren by discussing the importance of online safety. You can find details of some resources on the Digital Child website. A great resource for educators and parents to access is the ‘Teaching digital citizenship in primary schools and early education settings’ report, that provides examples of eSafety education across fifteen Australian Primary Schools and one early education centre. 

The inaugural theme, “Fun with Digital Media: Getting the Balance Right,” was a tremendous success, showcasing the creativity and insight young minds bring to digital issues. This year’s theme has taken the concept of balance further by focusing on decision-making and personal responsibility in the digital space. If Series 1 is any indication, the winners from this year’s competition are bound to be imaginative, engaging, and impactful. Through collaborative activities like this, researchers at the Digital Child are building a community of young digital citizens who understand their role in creating a safer online world for everyone.  

Announcing the winners of Series 2 of Stories by Digital Children 

Thank you to all children who submitted entries for Series 2 from across the country and congratulations to our winners: 

• Frankie, aged 4 – for a story about Fasty the wolf  
• Darcy, aged 9 – for a story about a young cat called Meow Meow  
• Fiona, aged 11 – for a story about Patty the Potato  

For more details and copies of the Stories by Digital Children books, visit Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. 

Let’s celebrate the creativity and knowledge of our young digital citizens!