Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles
Early childhood is seen by many as the ideal time to shape, support and encourage the child in order to become fully emotionally, intellectually and socially competent adults in the future. Discussions about the degree that children can participate and have agency in these processes are ongoing. How...
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| Format: | Book Chapter |
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Springer
2021
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86265 |
| _version_ | 1848764800273743872 |
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| author | Willson, Michele |
| author_facet | Willson, Michele |
| author_sort | Willson, Michele |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Early childhood is seen by many as the ideal time to shape, support and encourage the child in order to become fully emotionally, intellectually and socially competent adults in the future. Discussions about the degree that children can participate and have agency in these processes are ongoing. However, what happens with these agentic capacities when decisions are made based on big data analytics and predictive algorithms?
Predictive algorithms are enacted in the everyday in multiple ways: for example, autosuggested google search terms; Amazon recommendations; or more controversially in predictive (and pre-emptive) policing practices. Prediction entails forecasting possible outcomes based on modelling, pattern detection and recognition through the (supervised and/or unsupervised) analysis of large data sets using iterative machine learning algorithmic processes. These practices inform strategies, policies and planning.
Within the contemporary child’s digital ecosystem/s, there are multiple and diverse predictive practices at play. This chapter explores a number of predictive practices in early childhood initiatives. In doing so, the paper raises questions about broader ethical, and normative issues for child rearing practices, and the possibilities for child or parental agency when predictive practices drive choices that are available, hidden or negated. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:07Z |
| format | Book Chapter |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-86265 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-862652023-08-31T03:16:43Z Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles Willson, Michele 2001 - Communication and Media Studies Early childhood is seen by many as the ideal time to shape, support and encourage the child in order to become fully emotionally, intellectually and socially competent adults in the future. Discussions about the degree that children can participate and have agency in these processes are ongoing. However, what happens with these agentic capacities when decisions are made based on big data analytics and predictive algorithms? Predictive algorithms are enacted in the everyday in multiple ways: for example, autosuggested google search terms; Amazon recommendations; or more controversially in predictive (and pre-emptive) policing practices. Prediction entails forecasting possible outcomes based on modelling, pattern detection and recognition through the (supervised and/or unsupervised) analysis of large data sets using iterative machine learning algorithmic processes. These practices inform strategies, policies and planning. Within the contemporary child’s digital ecosystem/s, there are multiple and diverse predictive practices at play. This chapter explores a number of predictive practices in early childhood initiatives. In doing so, the paper raises questions about broader ethical, and normative issues for child rearing practices, and the possibilities for child or parental agency when predictive practices drive choices that are available, hidden or negated. 2021 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86265 Springer fulltext |
| spellingShingle | 2001 - Communication and Media Studies Willson, Michele Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title | Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title_full | Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title_fullStr | Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title_short | Digital Predictions: Children’s Futures, Opportunities and Obstacles |
| title_sort | digital predictions: children’s futures, opportunities and obstacles |
| topic | 2001 - Communication and Media Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86265 |