Thomas Hepsoe has been working in the Norwegian Media Authority since 2007 as an adviser and now as a project coordinator of the Safe Use - project (SAFT) that promotes safe and effective use of the Internet and new technologies among young citizens.

He has also been working at the Ombudsman for children in Norway and been involved in several projects on digital youth projects.

He has also been a member of the PEGI advisory board and a member of a governmental expert group on crime prevention.

He is graduated in Social psychology (MA) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

ABSTRACT

Plenary session: Children's experiences in their digital world: Challenges and Opportunities

The Internet is full of complexity and challenges the traditional regulation and protection measures concerning the use of new technology among children. It tends to support an over-protective, risk-averse culture that restricts the freedom of online exploration that society encourages for children in other spheres. It is in the border between freedom of speech, children rights to information and empowerment and protection of the children, that the difficult questions shows up when you work with Internet, mobile, games and other digital arenas.

We can’t risk a development of a “protective childhood” in a direction were young people can’t take part of their constitutional rights and their developing needs like socializing and empowerment.

It is of great importance that we work with good attitudes and consciousness on safe use of digital interactive media. Many parents feel that they don’t have enough competence or knowledge to help their children to navigate in the virtual world. That’s why it is important to develop parental tools so we can engage and support parents who can lead the way and engage their children. Parents must in greater scale be an example and guide their children towards a safer and responsible use of Internet. To teach children to manage risk is a vital part of developing resistance and competence.