Children’s participation, local policy and the digital environment: Visions and uses among Spanish municipalities

 Ana-María Novella-Cámara, Barcelona (Spain)

 Clara Romero-Pérez, Sevilla (Spain)

 Héctor-S. Melero, Madrid (Spain)

 Elena Noguera-Pigem, Barcelona (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C69-2021-03

Keywords

Participation, childhood, virtual environment, participatory culture, rights of the children, municipal government

Abstract

Children's policies at the local level stimulate initiatives in the municipalities to encourage child participation. In this article, we focus on the local political sphere as a space for the promotion of child participation and citizenship through digital mediation. It is in this immediate environment where the rights of children and adolescents are exercised and promoted. The study aims to analyse the contributions perceived by municipal leaders (elected officials and technical figures) of the digital environment and the uses they make of it to promote children’s participation in the municipality. This study is part of a national project that includes as collaborating entities the International Association of Educating Cities (IACE) and Child Friendly Cities (CAI-Unicef). 279 subjects (191 technical figures and 88 elected officials) from 179 Spanish municipalities associated members of IACE and/or CAI. Data were collected in 2020. Two ad hoc designed questionnaires were applied. Two of the most significant results of the study are: (a) the finding of the variable that establishes differences between those technical figures that mediate children’s participation with technological environments and those that do not; (b) the use made of the digital environment as an interactive space for informational purposes. It concludes on the need to rethink the digital environment as a participatory area and increasing the use of technology in support of children’s citizenship.

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Fundref

This work has been funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain, the European Regional Development Fund and the State Research Agency (Spain). Project “Childhood and participation. Diagnosis and proposals for an active and inclusive citizenship” (RTI2018-098821-B-I00). https://bit.ly/3hh9wOL.

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Technical information

Received: 26-02-2021

Revised: 26-03-2021

Accepted: 27-04-2021

OnlineFirst: 15-06-2021

Publication date: 01-10-2021

Article revision time: 28 days | Average time revision issue 69: 30 days

Article acceptance time: 59 days | Average time of acceptance issue 69: 68 days

Preprint editing time: 171 days | Average editing time preprint issue 69: 180 days

Article editing time: 216 days | Average editing time issue 69: 225 days

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