engleski

Digital Childhood in Croatia: Health Policy Perspective

Digital technology is impacting children’s lives and life chances all over the world, both bringing opportunities and skills they need to succeed as well as possibly creating new divides that prevent children from fulfilling their potential. While children today are growing up in digitally infused surroundings of the interconnected world, we still see a presence of digital divide, and it is more than an access issue. It is not a question of technology availability and affordability but more of digital literacy and skills, even at healthcare professionals. There are many potentials risks for health and well-being of young people growing up in a digital age. What we can do, as policy makers and digital health regulators, is to recognize the risks and at least address each of the risks specifically so we can offer digital health guidance, measures and recommendations, as well as we do for so many other public health topics, such as sexual health. policies in digital health, as well as in other areas (such as addiction prevention strategies and public health strategies) have to become more responsive to reflect particular needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people in a timely manner. They should enable both inclusive aspects, such as assistive technology usage, as well as preventive aspects to tackle digital addiction disorders. Only with the comprehensive approach we can aim to prepare the ground for making tangible benefits for well-being of youth.

digital technology, children, healthcare, health policy, health strategy

Citation: Belani, H. (2021). Digital Childhood in Croatia: Health Policy Perspective. Academia Letters, Article 2191. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL2191.