Digital Sovereignty of Adolescents

Abstract

This paper takes up the approach of individual Digital Sovereignty and develops a first systematization of the concept. It defines it as all the abilities and opportunities a person possesses to realize his/her own plans and decisions in dealing with or depending on digital media in a competent, self-determined and secure manner and against the background of individual, technical, legal and social conditions. The significance of individual Digital Sovereignty for adolescents is illustrated by the results of an exploratory study in which we conducted group discussions with 106 eighth-graders of different school types. Results show that most adolescents have only a vague notion about their own data traces and the use they are put to. Only a small number of seven pupils – the whizzes – stood out due to their extraordinary understanding and deep reflections on digital media.