Closing the digital divide may require more than just offering devices and connectivity

Digital parenting has become more crucial than ever before. The predominant focus for parents, policy-makers, and researchers has long been on minimising the risk of harm. Yet the swift transition to children’s online learning during lockdown caught many off-guard. Children from disadvantaged families struggle to get online due to a lack of device or internet connectivity. Safety issues such as online child pornography are also in the spotlight. Dongmiao Zhang (Utrecht University) and Sonia Livingstone (LSE) discuss the difficulties of digital parenting and how to close the digital divide by supporting less-educated parents and those from lower socio-economic status households.