This one-hour webinar will present an overview of recent research findings concerning children’s use of digital technologies focussing on online entertainment activities. The first part of the webinar will present research findings from recent research studies that examined online risks related to gaming and gambling more specifically. The second part will present research focussed on children’s digital skills development and digital competencies that allow children to engage in entertainment activities safely.
The webinar intends to contribute to the discussion surrounding the role of digital technologies in child development. Both contributions build upon the recent developments of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory (Navarro and Tudge, 2022) which consider both virtual and physical environments an integral context for children’s psychosocial development. Professor Kerr from University College Dublin will be invited to discuss these findings and reflect on implications for future research and social policies.
To register for the event, please visit this link.
Speakers:
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Mattia Messena is an Assistant Professor of Systemic Psychotherapy, UCD School of Medicine and a Psychologist (Italian Psychologists board). He joined UCD in 2020 to undertake a PhD training in the School of Medicine. His dissertation focused on digital skills and children’s wellbeing and the role of parents and teachers in fostering a positive use of digital technologies. He has also worked as research fellow with CybersafeKids, a charity advocating for online safety and children’s wellbeing. He is the Co-Chair of the CRN Digital Technologies and Co-director of the UCD AdoDigitFam_Lab.
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Paul Kitchin is a Senior Lecturer and former Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Ulster University (UU). Kitchin has a PhD in Organisational Sociology. Previously, he worked at the University of East London and London Metropolitan Universities before joining UU in 2009. Kitchin’s research interests focus on how wider health and social outcomes are developed through sport, specifically on young people with disabilities. See more details here: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/pj-kitchin.
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Aphra Kerr is a Professor of Digital Media and Communication at University College Dublin, Senior Advisor at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy, and co- PI at the ADAPT Research Ireland Centre for Digital Content Technology. Her research focuses on the social impacts of digital media including digital games. She published monographs and research articles on these topics: https://people.ucd.ie/aphra.kerr
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Marina Everri is an Assistant Professor of Systemic Psychotherapy, UCD School of Medicine, a Psychologist (Chartered member of the British Psychological Society), Family Therapist (Registered member of the Family Therapy Association of Ireland) Clinical supervisor in CAMHS, Dublin. She worked at NovaUCD as Head of Research in an Ed-tech start-up, and as a Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interests concern the role of digital technologies in child development, parent-child relationships, and family communication. She directs the UCD AdoDigitFam research laboratory, and is a member of the CRN Digital Technologies SIG: https://people.ucd.ie/marina.everri/publications