Australia

Australian children to be part of digital research

September 22, 2019 7:30 pm

Australian children will be part of a world-first study to understand the impact digital technology is having on their first eight years of life.

The Morrison government has pledged NZ$38 million to help establish a research centre based at the Queensland University of Technology.

Australia’s Education Minister Dan Tehan says children are growing up with unprecedented access to technology and we need to better understand the effect it is having on them.

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The study will lead to resources to reduce harm children experience from technology.

Lead researcher Susan Danby hopes to create a clear understanding of the digital impact on children, saying there’s currently mixed messages.

The study will consider problems related to screen time, social media use, gaming, and online safety.