Redefining the role of parents in young children’s online interactions. A value-sensitive design case study

Abstract

Abstract When holding parents responsible for the consequences of young children’s online interactions, we overlook design opportunities that support a meaningful role for parents in these interactions. This paper considers the perspectives on online risks and opportunities, as studied in parental mediation studies, and on the capabilities of young children to make sense of online environments, as proposed by post-modern notions of the child. The paper presents a case study of the functionalities of an online entertainment platform that define the role of parents in young children’s online play and communication. This paper reports on a three-phased study, inspired by Value-Sensitive Design, that presents the values of the design team and parents with at least one 4 to 10-year-old. The main contribution is the formulation of design guidelines that serve as a starting point for the CCI community to research and design novel functionalities that enable parents to play a meaningful role in young children’s interactions with digital platforms.