As the British government announces plans for a full ban on social media for under-16s, what could possibly go wrong?
Author Archives: dbuckingham2015
Media bans and media literacy: a continuing story
A further update on media policy
Media bans and ‘media literacy’: a dissenting view
The ban on ‘digital childhood’
What’s the rationale behind Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media platforms, and how effective is it likely to be? An interview with Professor Michael Dezuanni. Continue reading
Teaching Adolescence: the antidote to ‘toxic masculinity’?
The Netflix series Adolescence is being used in schools to teach about the problems of ‘toxic masculinity’ and the dangers of the ‘manosphere’. What are the potential problems of this approach? Continue reading
Protecting minors? Book bans are on their way to Britain
There is growing controversy about the banning of books from children’s libraries in the UK. What’s motivating this phenomenon, and what can we do about it? Continue reading
‘I can see it in your face’: the perils of age verification online
As the UK’s Online Safety Act begins to be implemented, some well-established critical questions are arising once again. Will we ever be able to prevent children accessing material that we deem to be harmful or objectionable? And if we can’t, what then?
Media literacy: a case of policy failure
A new report from the House of Lords provides interesting reading on the current state of media literacy in the UK.
Art and youth work in post-war Britain: ‘Journey into a Fog’
A forgotten best-seller of the mid-1950s sheds light on youth culture and the potential of creative youth work. Continue reading
Should we ban mobile phones in schools?
Reviewing arguments for and against – and proposing a media education approach.
David Buckingham 