Researching Children and Young People’s Digital Lifeworlds

This chapter introduces the ecosystem of children and young people’s digital lifeworlds globally and reminds the reader why researching this social group in the digital age matters, particularly in Majority World contexts such as Africa. Many African nations’ communicative and socio-political practices and structures are being shaped by technology, yet little is known about the influence of digital technology on the daily lives of crucial populations, particularly children and adolescents. This chapter equally presents elements of the research that form the backbone of this book, its aim, and key questions, as well as brief overviews of the methodology and theoretical underpinnings. The conceptual frameworks underpinning this book, such as the digital divide, digital technology, rural and urban dichotomies, and young people, are also explored.