How Can Trust Increase Children′s Understanding of Privacy for 21st Century Learning Environment?

Abstract

In the digital world, privacy is one of the most important factors in establishing and building trust. Children involvement in digital media and internet is increasing particularly in embracing the 21st century learning environment. Concerns related to the intermediated role of trust can increase children’s understanding of privacy served as a critical research area to be investigated. Therefore, this study presents the findings from interview (26 pupils) and focus group session (10 focus group sessions involving 57 pupils) with children aged 9 to 11 years in Edinburgh, Scotland, and with eight volunteering parents to investigate their perceptions of trust in the online environment. The findings have shown how trust helped children to be ready to embrace the 21st century learning environment. Trust to children helped in increasing children’s autonomy, help in understanding the parental internet mediation styles, reducing parents’ worries and increase children’s privacy awareness.