A developmental view on digital vulnerability and agency of children under 10 years of age

Abstract

The digital behaviour of children is influenced by vulnerabilities in their offline world, especially in their families and peer group. By analysing children’s interactions with digital technologies (DT) from a familial–ecological developmental perspective, one objective of this chapter is to identify the general, categorical, situational, and individual vulnerabilities in children’s use of DT, their reflections, and their caretakers’ accounts. Adding the cultural constructivist developmental theory of Vygotsky to the ecological perspective that grounds our work in this chapter offers a second objective to incorporate parenting mediation in the discussion on children’s development regarding digital behaviour. The chapter is based on an analysis of 31 family interviews with children aged 5–6 or 8–10 years and 62 members of their families, as well as 31 focus groups with children in the two age groups. The analysis of the mediation of children’s DT use by caregivers and children’s responses to parenting rules shows the relevance of the constructivist theory in understanding children’s digital behaviour. The evolving agency of children may enhance their chances to overcome vulnerabilities and promote healthy adaptation, growth of competence, and resilience.