Designing Technologies with and for Youth: Traps of Privacy by Design

Bieke Zaman

doi:10.17645/mac.v8i4.3261

Abstract

Media and communication scholars studying young people’s privacy often involve them in research in order to better understand their interactions with digital technologies. Yet there is a lack of research on how, when, and why it makes sense to involve young people in the design phase of new technologies and how data protection safeguards can be taken proactively by design. By engaging with the body of literature at the intersection of media and communication studies, participatory design, and child–computer interaction research, this article discusses how youth-centred design efforts risk falling into three traps of privacy by design, relating to: 1) the different degrees of decision power within and between child-centred design guidelines and participatory design with young people; 2) the involvement of young people in design as citizens versus consumers; and 3) the conditions under which their participation in design is empowerment rather than mere decoration. The contribution of this article is a critical, sociotechnical reflection on the challenges and opportunities of involving young people in privacy by design decision-making. The article concludes by outlining an agenda for participatory design within an encompassing empowerment and digital citizenship framework that invites young people to reflect on who they want to be in a data-driven society.

Highlights

Media and communication scholars are consulting young people during research in order to better understand their unique notions of privacy
The rationale for this article followed from the observation that most media and communication studies dealing with youth and privacy have only been concerned with hearing young people’s voices regarding their interaction with existing technologies
This article aimed to address the gap in research on how, when, and why it makes sense to involve young people in design decision-making prior to the implementation of digital technologies

Summary

Introduction

Media and communication scholars are consulting young people during research in order to better understand their unique notions of privacy. About the research efforts that feed into the design of new technologies and the role that young people (can/should) take in these efforts. Young people have the right to be heard in all matters affecting them, including with respect to digital technologies, as consumers and data providers and as active co-designers. This gives them the opportunity to question, negotiate, and gain a better understanding of privacy and data protection issues (Dowthwaite et al, 2020), which in turn creates a pathway to digital skill development for empowerment (D’Ignazio, 2017; Iversen, Smith, & Dindler, 2018). In UNICEF’s comments on this provision, it is explained that this can be achieved either via direct consultation of young people or through a representative or an appropriate body (Viviers, 2014)

Objectives

Conclusion