Session: Challenging Myths about Young People and the Internet

Concise Description:
This workshop explores common claims about the impact of the Internet on children and young people & invites participants to explore the evidence base for each. It will identify where policy initiatives are based on misconceptions about young people and the Internet; and will look at areas where current evidence is lacking.

The workshop will draw upon a discussion paper outlining ‘myths’ that young participants in past IGFs, and partner organisations, have identified. Invited panelists will start discussion, but considerable time will be given to facilitated dialogue between workshop participants. The workshop will support evidence based policy making by sharing learning from studies of young people’s contact with the Internet.

Myths to be addressed with be identified through consultation with workshop stakeholders upon workshop acceptance, but will take as a starting point those put forward by danah boyd: Myths #1: The digital is separate from the “real” world; #2: Social media makes kids deceptive; #3: Social media is addictive; #4: Kids don’t care about privacy; #5: The Internet is a dangerous, dangerous place; #6: There’s nothing educational about social media; #7: Kids are digital natives; and #8: The Internet is the great equalizer. boyd: Favorite myth-making news articles? September 11th 2010