Children and youth participation in digital environment: a systematic literature review

In both online and offline environments, children and youth have the right to freedom of expression and participation. Research on children’s participation and voice in the media is expanding, although the objectives and the actual actions of their participation are less studied. In this study, using conceptualisations of children and youth media participation as social interaction, political and civic participation (Giddens, 2006; Carpentier, 2011, 2015; Dahlgren, 2013), a literature review (2017–2022), on children's participation in media and in society through media was conducted in the field of Communication Sciences. The “Communication Abstracts” database and the Prisma 2020 methodology were used to answer the following research questions: (a) What is the object of analysis and methodological approach in sources? (b) What are the goals of children mediated participation reported by studies? (c) What types of action are conducted by children in the media and in society through media? After the application of the eligibility criteria, 78 studies were included in the review. Overwall, the results suggest that social interaction followed by political participation were the main goals of children (mediated) participation in those studies. Belonging to a community seems to be the main motivation for children's content creation and sharing, followed by activism and social change. Identity building, prestige and recognition are more connected with children content creation, while political engagement actions rely more on sharing content. Only four sources mention participation in media organisations. Children use social media, particularly YouTube, and game platforms to participate with diverse levels of intensity. Formal education, and particularly civic and media education, have a relevant role in youth participatory actions in media.