Dalla protezione alla partecipazione. Un approccio etico al rapporto tra media e minori al tempo del web 2.0

In the 20th century, the debate on the relationship between kids and media was characterized by an apocalyptic vision of the negative effects that the use of television may have on children. In terms of regulation, this has resulted in the preparation of a series of legal instruments associated with the common desire to protect the child. These tools limit the ethical approach to professional ethics. Today, this scenario completely changes. Television is no longer the medium par excellence enjoyed by the children: it has been replaced by the web 2.0. In it, the values, texts and practices take a new shape and size of production and consumption that was unimaginable until a few years ago. Add to this that the relationship between media and children not only declines in consumption by the child or in the child’s representation in the media themselves: today, even children can take three different roles in respect to the web, related to access, interaction and participation in content production. These three possible roles require parents to make the right choices between the risks arising from the wrong use of the web and its positives opportunities. The transition from mainstream media to digital media requires, however, the transition from a purely legal approach to an ethical approach, which puts the spotlight on the concept of responsibility of everyone who practice the web and produce content for it.