The Digital Futures Commission has now concluded. Our new project is the Digital Futures for Children centre, joint with 5Rights Foundation and London School of Economics and Political Science.

Category: Play

Follow how our research has unfolded from 2020 to 2023 and gain an snapshot of our findings across the play, data and innovation research streams.

Why play matters in a digital world

By Sonia Livingstone To ask afresh why children’s play matters, and to figure out how to design a better digital world, we have already taken »

Interview with Gerison Lansdown

To understand the right to play and how that manifests in the digital world, Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan spoke to Gerison Lansdown, an expert »

Interview with Paul Ramchandani

To gain insights into children’s world and how they use play, Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan spoke to Paul Ramchandani, a Lego Professor at the »

Interview with Katie Salen Tekinbas

To understand how play is designed in the digital world, Sonia Livingstone OBE and Kate Cowan spoke to Katie Salen Tekinbas, as part of our »

Interview with Dr Bo Stjerne Thomsen

To understand how theories of play can be translated into practice, Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan spoke to Dr Bo Stjerne Thomsen, from the LEGO »

Interview with Kristiina Kumpulaine

To understand how play is defined and characterised, Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan spoke to Kristiina Kumpulainen, a Professor of Education at the University of Helsinki, as »

What is free play, and why does it matter?

By Kate Cowan Play is an important part of children’s lives, but adults often find defining and understanding play a challenge. Philosophers, psychologists, biologists, anthropologists »

Interview with Chris Bateman

To understand the culture of digital play from a design perspective, Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan spoke to Chris Bateman, a game designer, author, and »

Interview with Ann Phoenix

To understand the constraints that the adult world places on play, Sonia Livingstone spoke to Professor Ann Phoenix of the UCL Thomas Coram Research Institute, »