Digital Parenting Lab

Walking through the corridors of the V&A, I came across a magnificent sculpture by Antonio Canova, Theseus and the Minotaur (1782).

As the myth goes, the Greek hero Theseus, guided by Ariadne’s thread- his lifeline through a complex labyrinth, was able to defeat the Minotaur, a monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull.

Had the ancient Greeks known about the digital labyrinths that today encompass both joy and concern for parents, and the myriad “Minotaurs” our children may encounter online: they might have invented a digital Ariadne’s thread of their own.

This raises an important question: to what extent can digital labyrinths be considered risky for children? Is there such a thing as a healthy limit to screen time? How safe are these digital spaces, and who bears responsibility for what children encounter online?

Together, we will explore these questions throughout this blog.