Lizzie Jackson

There is less research being produced on children’s use of media than adults, partly due to the fact that there are so many processes in place which protect the safety of children. In the news recently (14th January, 2007) it is widely reported the NSPCC will set up a new body to protect children who appear on reality TV.  Child protection is commendable, but it is also good business; see this course for teachers from Lighthouse, or webfilter software; and it is always good for generating column inches.

 I have been conducting research into children’s use of virtual worlds. In order to do this, it has been necessary for me to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau (which can take up to three months), to ask the schools, parents and children to all sign documents giving their permission for the research to take place, and to ensure children are not identifiable when presenting findings. I have also had to complete risk assessments for both organisations involved, to get the project passed by the University Ethics Committee, to ensure the ratio of adults to children is sufficient and to make sure the data collected is encrypted and kept on a secure server behind several firewalls in order to comply with the Data Protection Act. I would think 30-40% of the time allocated for me to do the research has been spent complying with the various child safety processes.

In an interview on the Channel 4 series ‘TV is Dead?’ (09.30, Wednesday 16th January, 2008), Ashley Highfield, Director of BBC New Media drew a line between the media consumption behaviours of adults and children commenting how they are completely different. He believes, and I agree, that teenagers and children show us how we will all be consuming media in the future.

If we want to study future media, we have to look closely at how children are engaging with content from many different sources (often at the same time).  It is sensible to assume the kind of project I am engage in is important, particularly as the amount of broadcast programming for children (television) being produced in the UK is being reduced and, at the same time, children ’s consumption of non-broadcast media is increasing.  An analysis of any ’other media’ being produced for children in Britain therefore becomes increasingly of interest.

I have been lucky, as the project I am involved with is being well supported by all concerned, the co-funders, the schools, parents, and the children themselves. What concerns me is the child protection industry which is increasing apace and, through its expansion, it could be argued, the promotion of the perceived risks to children. 

The UK is setting global standards for the protection of children on the Internet, and has opted for self-regulation and best practice by producers and internet service providers; in contrast to the USA where there is more regulation. We also need is to make sure there is as much, if not more, research funding on children and their use of media. At present, due to the amount of hoops researchers have to go through to undertake studies on or with children, there is far less in-depth, longitudinal, research going on than there ought to be.