Designing Tech for Kids’ Well-being

CUNY The Graduate Center  Professor Bruce Homer, LEGO Global Digital Child Safety Lead Elizabeth Milovidov, Blizzard Entertainment / Fair Play Alliance Senior Research Scientist II Natasha Miller, and Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop Executive Director Michael Preston discuss designing tech for kid's well-being at the 2023 ASU+GSV Summit.

What does well-being for children in the digital age look like? A growing movement acknowledges that it’s not enough to worry about technology’s potential harm to children; it is time to be more intentional about designing for positive outcomes. How can we design digital experiences that allow children to learn emotional regulation, develop competence and creativity, feel empowered and self-actualized, and connect with others in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment while keeping them safe? We will discuss recent research exploring the links between games and well-being, the value of child-centered design, and insights from the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) and Digital Thriving projects that offer guidance to developers looking for ways to create digital experiences that promote positive well-being for young people.