B.03. Childhood and Democracy in the Digital Age: Building the Foundations of Active Citizenship

Childhood represents the critical foundation upon which democratic participation and social responsibility are built. In contemporary digital societies, children encounter algorithmic systems, social media platforms, and educational technologies that profoundly shape their cognitive development and social relations from early ages. Understanding how to foster democratic values in the digital age represents an urgent pedagogical and societal challenge.

This interdisciplinary panel explores the intersection of childhood, digital literacy, and civic formation, investigating how democratic values can be effectively raised through early education. The panel invites contributions addressing four dimensions:

First, pedagogical innovation: How can early education integrate digital and civic learning to foster critical thinking and active participation rather than passive consumption? Second, ethical and relational dimensions: How can educators support children in recognizing fairness, inclusion, and cooperation within technologically mediated environments? Third, institutional and community contexts: How can schools, families, and communities collaborate to establish participatory ecosystems that empower children as active citizens? Fourth, comparative and policy perspectives: Which educational models and policies most effectively balance protection with meaningful participation in children's digital experiences?

By drawing on perspectives from pedagogy, philosophy, sociology, and technology studies, this panel seeks to rethink childhood as a democratic space where foundations of inclusion, empathy, and critical awareness are constructed. The panel aims to create substantive dialogue among educators, researchers, and policymakers to envision innovative frameworks for democratic education from the earliest stages of development, ultimately transforming how societies prepare children for meaningful democratic engagement.