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Decolonising Digital Design: Towards Safe and Inclusive Digital Experiences for Children and Young People

Project

15 May 2025 - 23 Dec 2025

Labour, Migration and Social Policies

Martyna Gliniecka

Zuzanna Stańska

Hilary Kalisiak

Date:

15 May 2025 - 23 Dec 2025
Financed by:

Internet Society Foundation

Martyna Gliniecka

Senior Social Sciences Researcher
Dr Martyna Gliniecka is a Senior Social Sciences Researcher at the CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research. At CASE, she specialises in social research and policy projects, with a focus on qualitative research, participatory methods, and equality, diversity and inclusion. She previously led and participated in research projects in the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, aiming to better young people’s lives and their resilience in the domains of technology and health. She specialises in qualitative research methods, participatory methodologies, and digital research (e.g., digital ethnography). She is especially interested in online communities and their role in the growing domain of youth digital health.

Projects from this author:
- Digital Resilience of Children and Young People in Rural Areas
  The main objective of the project is to strengthen digital resilience among children and young people in rural areas. Experiencing online risks has become an inherent part of growing up today. Research shows that children and adolescents most often cope with such challenges on their own, without support from adults. As contact with digital risks is unavoidable, it is important to develop children’s digital resilience – including critical thinking, coping strategies, and the ability to seek help when needed.
- Future Forward. Futures-Inspired Educational Resources for Adult Learners’ Empowerment
- Study on Updating the CoR material on the Division of Powers – Armenia and Azerbaijan
Author’s projects
Zuzanna Stańska

Specialist in Social Sciences
Zuzanna Stańska is a Social Sciences Specialist at CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research, where she conducts qualitative research on adult and youth education, lifelong learning, migration, and social policy. Her work explores how individuals and communities adapt to social and technological change, with a particular focus on educational equity, digital transformation, and the inclusion of groups at risk of marginalisation.

Projects from this author:
- Digital Resilience of Children and Young People in Rural Areas
  The main objective of the project is to strengthen digital resilience among children and young people in rural areas. Experiencing online risks has become an inherent part of growing up today. Research shows that children and adolescents most often cope with such challenges on their own, without support from adults. As contact with digital risks is unavoidable, it is important to develop children’s digital resilience – including critical thinking, coping strategies, and the ability to seek help when needed.
- Drivers of involuntary part-time employment in the EU
- Future Forward. Futures-Inspired Educational Resources for Adult Learners’ Empowerment
Author’s projects
Hilary Kalisiak

Junior Specialist in Social Sciences
Projects from this author:
- Study on ‘The local and regional dimension of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans’

The Decolonising Digital Design project was born out of the conviction that children and young people have the right to digital spaces that are safe, fair, and respectful of their diverse cultural identities.
While digital technologies play a significant role in the lives of young people, little is still known about how they themselves perceive the design of inclusive and ethical online solutions — and even less about how to effectively evaluate their impact.

Led by the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, with the support of the Internet Society Foundation, the project contributes new insights to internet research by developing practical frameworks and assessment tools that center the experiences and needs of children and young people around the world. In doing so, the project actively supports the decolonisation of the internet — creating digital tools and services that acknowledge and respect the cultural and social diversity of young users.

The current work builds on a 12-month pilot conducted in partnership with the Centre for Development Management and Communication (MICA, India) and the SEJIWA Foundation (Indonesia), which explored the perspectives of children in Australia, India, and Indonesia. The pilot results highlighted the importance of local contexts and the meaningful involvement of young people in digital design processes.

The project is being implemented in nine countries (Australia, Poland, India, Venezuela, Solomon Islands, Rwanda, Brazil, Chad, Lebanon). Partners are engaged in participant recruitment, consultations, and data analysis, while upholding high ethical and data protection standards.

Project Goals:

To develop frameworks and recommendations that incorporate the perspectives of children and youth in the decolonisation of the internet;
To create digital spaces that are inclusive, ethical, and culturally responsive;
To design a digital evaluation tool for assessing the cultural appropriateness of digital platforms for children and youth;
To support educators and institutions by providing tools and strategies that promote the development of digital competencies among young people.

The project is grounded in a participatory research model, involving children, youth, and adult stakeholders in consultations. It includes consultations with children and youth, as well as international online meetings to ensure broad dissemination and impact among platforms, young people, and educators. The project will also engage young co-researchers who will actively participate in consultations, data analysis, and dissemination of results.

As part of the project, four workshops will be conducted with children and youth (in the 9–12 and 13–18 age groups, in both urban and rural settings), along with four intergenerational workshops involving young people and adult stakeholders (including tech professionals and institutional decision-makers).

The findings from this research will inform the development of evidence-based frameworks, tools, and child- and youth-centered indicators. These resources will support digital platforms and services, governments, and NGOs around the world in understanding and responding to the needs and priorities of culturally diverse children — thus contributing to collective efforts to decolonise the internet.

Decolonising Digital Design is an innovative approach to creating digital experiences that are safe, fair, and tailored to the needs of culturally diverse children and young people. Through international collaboration and active youth participation, the project supports the development of digital skills essential for conscious and safe participation in the digital world.

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Decolonising Digital Design: Towards Safe and Inclusive Digital Experiences for Children and Young People

Date:

Financed by:

Martyna Gliniecka

Projects from this author:

Zuzanna Stańska

Projects from this author:

Hilary Kalisiak

Projects from this author:

Project Goals:

Related projects

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Decolonising Digital Design: Towards Safe and Inclusive Digital Experiences for Children and Young People

Date:

Financed by:

Martyna Gliniecka

Projects from this author:

Zuzanna Stańska

Projects from this author:

Hilary Kalisiak

Projects from this author:

Project Goals:

Related projects

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