Digital Solutions Special Report

Ofcom’s latest Media Use and Attitudes report shows that nearly 20 per cent of three- and four-year-olds have their own tablet computer, while 83 per cent of 12- to 15-year-olds own a smartphone.

The statistics illustrate how integrated the digital world is in children and young people’s lives – and highlights the opportunities and challenges for agencies and service providers working with children and families.

Government departments are putting the development of digital approaches at the centre of how they work, providing funding for councils, public sector agencies and technology companies to develop, test and roll out digital solutions to societal problems.

The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic propelled this work forward at a faster pace than would have otherwise happened as many children’s services providers were forced to move in-person work onto digital platforms.

While this approach had drawbacks, some children preferred holding meetings on Zoom over doing so in person. However, the rise in screen time among many young people led to concerns about online safety and has prompted innovative approaches being developed to support vulnerable groups and younger children (see practice examples).

CYP Now’s special report on digital solutions summarises key developments in digital-first policies across government, how local authorities are working with children’s charities and the tech industry to devise innovative services, and what research tells us about the pros and cons of a digital-first approach.

Click on the links below to read more:

• Policy context
  

• Coram innovation partnership uses tech to tackle problems
  By Carol Homden, chief executive, Coram
  
  

• Practice examples:
  

  Council educators design e-safety game for SEND students

  Digital toolkit helps young children grasp the building blocks of online safety

  Virtual reality brings experiences of exploitation to life