Plenary session
Where is the street on the Internet? The online fulfillment of the real needs of children and youth.
JU prof. Małgorzata Michel PHD
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The presentation is based on the thesis that, in the polycrisis situation humanity currently faces, people’s needs have not changed significantly; what has changed is the way those needs are met. One of the reasons for this change is living in two parallel realities: the real and the online. The latter offers much greater possibilities for finding ways to fulfill one’s needs and is associated with the avatarization of identity as well as a seeming and subjective sense of security.
Focusing on children from vulnerable groups prone to harm and exclusion, the author will show where the “street” exists on the Internet—understood as a space for children’s street activity carried out without the participation or supervision of adults.
On the practical level, the issue relates to identifying children’s needs and, as a result, seeking ways to ensure their protection and safe fulfillment.
Protecting Without Excluding
UVA prof. Jessica Piotrowski PHD
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As concerns about children’s digital wellbeing intensify, calls for stronger age restrictions and platform accountability are growing. While it's crucial to protect young users from harmful content and ensure their rights are respected, this keynote cautions against reactive, control-oriented solutions that focus solely on keeping children out. Instead, it advocates for a future centered on digital competence and wellbeing-by-design. Grounded in research from developmental media psychology, communication science, and policy frameworks like the Digital Services Act (Article 28), this talk reframes digital engagement as a developmental opportunity — one that requires thoughtful design, supportive structures, and skill-building, not blanket bans. Empowering young people to navigate digital environments safely and meaningfully offers a more effective, sustainable, and rights-based path forward.