Death of Childhood: Children Growing Up in the Electronic Media Age

Author: (English) David Parkin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: What will be the fate of childhood in the 21st century? Are more and more children living in a "media childhood" controlled by electronic screens? Are their access to "adult" media increasing, and is the distinction between adulthood and childhood gradually disappearing? Or does new media technology make the distinction between adults and children more pronounced? David Parkin provides a clear and accessible overview of the recent transformation of childhood and the media environment. He refutes the moral panic caused by the negative effects of media and opposes unrealistic optimism about the "digital generation." In his argument, he points out the challenges brought by new technological developments, the privatization of the public sphere and the media, and the polarization of media wealth and media poverty. He believes that in a world filled with violence, commercialization, and politics, children should no longer be isolated or protected. Therefore, new strategies are essential to protect children's rights as citizens and consumers. Based on extensive research, this book offers a fresh perspective on the impact of media on children. At the same time, it provides a challenging new approach for researchers, parents, educators, media producers, and policymakers to address long-standing concerns.
[Book Interpretation] The original English title of this book is After the Death of Childhood, meaning "After Childhood Dies." The Chinese translation seems to fail to convey the profound meaning behind it: What should we do after childhood dies? Or, what should we do after the traditional concept of childhood dies? This is the question the author attempts to explore and clarify, and it remains a thought-provoking issue left for us by this work. The broad scope of the argument leaves no room for families, schools, governments, or the media to avoid this question. The book provides a clear and accessible overview of the recent transformation of childhood and the media environment. It refutes the moral panic caused by the negative effects of media and opposes unrealistic optimism about the "digital generation," proposing that children should not be isolated or protected in a world filled with violence, commercialization, and politics.