Integration and audience research: digital participation in the face of social semi-exclusion

Ponte, C., A. Jorge, J. A. Simões, R. Campos, L. Fernandes (2011). Integration and audience research: digital participation in the face of social semi-exclusion. Transforming Audiences 3 2011: "Online & Mobile Media, Everyday Creativity and DIY Culture". 1-2 September.

Transforming Audiences Paper.pdf

Abstract: This paper presents results from a research on digital inclusion and participation amongst deprived children in Portugal. Thanks to the national program to distribute laptops and mobile internet access, several of these children already have access to the internet, but the time spent online and the activities they conduct are limited by the type of access and usually by a lack of digitally competent parents. In the scope of a funded international project on Digital Inclusion and Participation (http://digital_inclusion.up.pt) focused on socially disadvantaged groups, we adapted part of the EU Kids Online survey to study 9 to 16-year-olds that use the Digital Inclusion Centres in the Escolhas [Choices] Program, which is part of a public policy for social inclusion. A selected group of questions on access, frequency, activities, skills and mediations were adapted and asked to these children. After discussing the concept of poverty and deprivation amongst children and presenting a brief portrait of the national context, this paper discusses results from the interviews (N294) focusing on the resources, activities and skills the deprived children and young people in this study revealed.