Young People's Digital Citizenship Conference

Name: Young People's Digital Citizenship Conference
Start: 2026-07-07T09:00:00+08:00
End: 2026-07-07T09:00:00+08:00
Location: Oaks Perth Hotel

About

Digital and Sexual Citizenship in an Age of Social Media Bans: Interrogating the Rights of Children and Young People

The ECU Ethical Digital Futures Group presents the Digital and Sexual Citizenship in an Age of Social Media Bans conference, to be held in Perth from 6–8 July 2026.

This conference will bring together researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners and young people to explore how emerging laws, policies and public debates are shaping the digital rights, participation and lived experiences of children and young people.

As governments, regulators and institutions increasingly seek to address concerns about online safety through restrictions on access to digital technologies and platforms, important questions arise about children's rights, agency, participation and citizenship. This conference provides a forum for critical discussion of these issues, drawing together diverse perspectives from across education, law, policy, media, youth studies, sociology, health, technology and related fields.

Conference themes include:

* Social media bans and age-verification policies
* Children's rights in digital environments
* Youth participation and agency
* Digital sexual citizenship
* Online safety, risk and wellbeing
* Digital inclusion and exclusion
* Law, policy and regulation
* Education and digital literacy
* Emerging technologies and young people
* Research, practice and lived experience

The conference will feature keynote presentations, research papers, panel discussions and opportunities for engagement with young people's perspectives and experiences.
Conference Dates

Welcome Function

Monday 6 July 2026
5:00pm – 8:00pm
ECU City Campus Function Room, Level 7

Conference Program

Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th of July 2026
Panels and presentations - program to be shared via email.

Venue

Oaks Hotel Perth
305 Murray Street
Perth WA 6000

This is an in-person event only.
Registration

Early Bird Registration (available until 22nd of June 2026)

Waged: $175
Unwaged / PhD Student:$100

Standard Registration (From 23rd of June 2026)

Waged:$200
Unwaged / PhD Student: $150

Conference registration includes attendance across both conference days (7–8 July 2026).
Welcome Function

Waged: $35
Unwaged / PhD Student:$20

Ticket includes light canapés, beverages and networking opportunities with fellow delegates.

Conference Outcomes

An edited collection of selected conference papers is planned following the conference, with discussions currently underway regarding publication opportunities.

Dress code: Business

We look forward to welcoming researchers, practitioners, students, policymakers and young people to Perth in July 2026 for what promises to be an important and timely conversation about the future of children's rights and citizenship in digital societies.