Understanding theory: What are the key theories and debates?

The study of children’s digital lives is a dynamic and multidisciplinary field. Each discipline offers its own concepts, theories and explanations. This can make it hard to reconcile the differences or follow the debates.

To help you get comfortable with key theories and debates, we share some resources for guidance and inspiration.

Resources related to this question

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Theories : Theorising online opportunities for children: learning, play and civic participation

Theories: bibliography : A guided reading list with key texts on nine key topics

FOR-KB_1Q-multipleA__What-theories-and-concepts-do-you-draw-on_.png — Experts discuss the key theories and concepts they use the most

Theories : Experts discuss the key theories and concepts they use the most

Theories : Classics made modern: Revisiting foundational child development theories in the digital age

FOR-KB1Q-multipleA__What-do-you-see-as-the-current-theoretical-arguments-or-debates-in-the-field_.png — Experts’ views on the current theoretical arguments and debates

Theories : Experts’ views on the current theoretical arguments and debates

FOR-KB_1Q-multipleA_Which-disciplines-or-traditions-particularly-influenced-your-thinking-and-why_.png — Experts discuss what disciplines and traditions influenced their work

Theories : Experts discuss what disciplines and traditions influenced their work

Theories webinar series : The impact of digital experiences on young people with mental health vulnerabilities

FOR-KB_1Q-multipleA_Do-you-see-any-change-in-the-way-these-disciplines-theorise-children's-internet-use_.png — Experts’ views on significant changes in how disciplines theorise about children

Theories : Experts’ views on significant changes in how disciplines theorise about children

FOR-KB_1Q-multipleA_Are-there-any-concepts-and-theories-that-you-wish-we-would-stop-using_.png — Experts’ views on the concepts that they consider contested or less helpful for theorising

Theories : Experts’ views on the concepts that they consider contested or less helpful for theorising

FOR-KB_1Q-multipleA_Are-there-any-concepts-and-theories-that-we-should-pay-more-attention-to_.png — Experts’ views on the concepts that we should pay more attention to

Theories : Experts’ views on the concepts that we should pay more attention to

Theories : On the concepts we use and what theory is good for

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Key areas and theories

CO:RE resources

The changing role of digital learning environments during/after the COVID-19 pandemic– on resilience and online learning (by Jussi Okkonen) The changing role of digital learning environments during/after the COVID-19 pandemic– on resilience and online learning (by Jussi Okkonen)

External Resources

Simply psychology – an open-access resource with detailed overviews of key theories and thinkers in psychology and related sub-disciplines, including child development, social psychology, criminology, cognitive psychology, and learning theories. Simply psychology – an open-access resource with detailed overviews of key theories and thinkers in psychology and related sub-disciplines, including child development, social psychology, criminology, cognitive psychology, and learning theories.
Oxford bibliographies – an open-access resource with short introductions and reading lists on key concepts and theories in a number of disciplines, including media and communication, sociology, psychology, childhood studies, critical theory, education, criminology. Oxford bibliographies – an open-access resource with short introductions and reading lists on key concepts and theories in a number of disciplines, including media and communication, sociology, psychology, childhood studies, critical theory, education, criminology.
Wiktionary: a multilingual dictionary (by Wikimedia) Wiktionary: a multilingual dictionary (by Wikimedia)
Definitions of Web-related terms (by Mozilla) Definitions of Web-related terms (by Mozilla)
A list of encyclopaedias: a collation of encyclopaedia links (by RefSeek) A list of encyclopaedias: a collation of encyclopaedia links (by RefSeek)

Key areas of children’s digital lives

Children and young people

The child, children and young people
Development and evolving capacity
Structures and cultures of childhood
Diversity and difference

Digital environment

Technology and affordances
Uses, users and domestication
Normative values in design
Innovation and datafication

Access

Place and time of access
In/equality and in/exclusions
Fixed and mobile access, wearable technologies
Transcending on/offline

Opportunities and benefits

Internet engagement
Participation and activism
Information and exploration
Play, creativity, fun

Skills and literacies

Learning and information skills
Digital skills and competencies
Data literacy and e-safety
Civic and other literacies

Risk and harm

Content, contact, conduct, contract risks
Familiar and emerging risks
Cross-cutting risks, including privacy
Relation between risk and harm

Health and wellbeing

Digital wellbeing and health
Mental ill-health and anxiety
Resilience and coping
Vulnerability

Social support

Parental mediation
Socialisation, family and school
Sociality and peer support
Professional help services

Policy and regulation

Children’s rights in the digital age
Law, policy and regulation
Agency, voice and activism
Responses to emerging challenges

What are you looking for?

Understanding theory: What are the key theories and debates?

Download Documents

CO:RE resources

External Resources

Understanding theory

How to work with theory

Applying theory in practice

What are the key theories and debates?

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Reports

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