Kids, KidTech and the Metaverse: Global Childhoods in digital capitalism is a SSHRC Insight Development Grant funded project that explores the shift where much of children’s daily lives have moved into online spaces; and in this shifting reality, asks what it means to be a child in these spaces. The team seeks to understand what these digital spaces are, how they are experienced, and how they are shaping children’s social, cultural and economic lives.
There is an urgent need to fully understand these platforms in order to protect children’s digital rights and support parents/caregivers, educators and policy makers as they navigate the rapid changes in children’s digital lives. For these reasons, the project asks three key research questions: (1) what is the Tech in KidTech? (2) What is the Kid in KidTech and (3) How do children and families experience KidTech?
Led by Principal Investigators Natalie Coulter (York University) and Rebekah Willett (University of Wisconsin-Madison), the project is an interdisciplinary partnership of institutions in Canada, Australia, South Korea and the US. This international partnership allows us to consider different approaches from key stakeholders including governments, industries, NGOs, educators and parents.
At each phase of the project, the research team is dedicated to providing graduate students with opportunities to further develop their research skills. You can find more information on team members and partners on the project website.