Watch Dr Madeleine Dobson (Curtin University, Australia) discuss her research into the representation of children on social media with Dr Vicki Hargraves. The webinar explores the ethical, legal, parental, and educational implications, and considers the portrayal of children on platforms such as Instagram from the point of view of social justice and children’s rights.

To help you navigate the webinar easily, there is a list of the key topics covered in the session below, including the time each was discussed. The key ideas discussed in this webinar are also shared in a short insight article.

Topics discussed in this webinar

Times shown in minutes and seconds from the start of the video:

2.31	Why research the representation of children on social media?
9.17	What are some common representations of children on social media?
19.31	Implications of children’s representations on social media
27.42	Supporting children’s rights in relation to their representation on social media
37.10	Issues of choice and voice for very young children
43.27	Representations of children in ECE as a source of influence
50.22	Positive representations of children on social media

Questions for exploring the key ideas from this webinar

Review some of the photos you have taken of children. How do they represent the child? What kinds of photographic conventions have you employed?

In what ways might you and your team ensure children have a say in the images that are selected to represent them in portfolios or other documentation? How could you do this with younger children?

What principles for and processes about documenting children’s lives and learning could you share with families, and how?

Further reading

You can learn more about Maddie’s research here:

Dobson, M., & Jay, J. (2019). The image of the child re-imagined on Instagram.

Dobson, M., & Jay, J. (2019). Emotionless, malleable little ornaments: Is this our image of children?

Dobson, M., & Jay, J. (2020). “Instagram has well and truly got a hold of me”: Exploring a parent’s representation of her children. Issues in Educational Research 30(1):58-78.

These pieces about children’s representations on social media take or include the child’s point of view:

Latifi, F. (2023, March 10). Influencer parents and the kids who had their childhood made into content. Teen Vogue.

Maddox, J. (2023, January 19). Why aren’t there any legal protections for the children of influencers? The Conversation.Kuss, D. (2022, April 2). How social media affects children at different ages – and how to protect them. The Conversation.