Gitte Bang Stald - The IT University Denmark
One of the things that is fascinating about children’s and adolescents’ uses of online media is that they can get in contact with other people and other places around the globe. That they can meet online with kids of the same age and talk or play or create something. But even if the internet makes it possible for children and adolescents in large parts of the world to get around the globe virtually, they are still very much locally rooted. It is still very important to children and adolescents to feel at home where they live and to mirror their own lives with those of others in other places. And despite the time young people spend in front of the screens (of all sizes) the large majority still find it most important to be with their friends. It may be watching a movie og playing a computer game or exchanging tunes via their mobiles – but it is very important to feel the nearness and trust among friends. Children and young people use online media to orientate themselves locally and to feel at home where they are.

