Research on children’s and youth media is a diverse and fragmented field of study involving various disciplines. It has produced an extensive body of data on the effects of the digital transformation on adolescents, though this body of data is sometimes contradictory. Against this backdrop, there is a need to bring greater coherence to the field by systematizing key research areas and findings. It is also necessary to identify where robust evidence already exists and where research needs are emerging.
Through the “International Observatory for Young People in Digitized Societies,” the HBI is creating a long-term infrastructure for children’s and youth media research. This infrastructure will aggregate, analyze, and disseminate scientific findings on growing up in digital media environments.
The Observatory includes the following core components, or work packages:
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- Monitoring media developments and research findings on the online experiences of children and adolescents,
- Conducting reviews of current research questions, and
- Transferring research findings to various stakeholder groups.
The goal of this interdisciplinary project is to facilitate evidence-based debates and decisions and to strengthen the rights of young people with regard to protection, participation, and empowerment in a mediatized world.
The Observatory is part of the institute’s strategic development and is funded under the special funding allocation approved for 2025
