Mienke Mari Steytler
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mienkemaristeytler.bsky.social
Mienke Mari Steytler
@mienkemaristeytler.bsky.social
| Children's Rights in the Digital Age | MA Socio-Informatics, Stellenbosch University | Former comms Amnesty International South Africa |
My fantastic supervisor @dougaparry.bsky.social at #MePsy25 while I’m listening and learning at #ICCRStellies. An exciting and important week all round.
September 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Exciting! Thank you to @dougaparry.bsky.social
From Street to Screen: Online Risks and Digital Literacy Among Adolescents in the Global South

@mienkemaristeytler.bsky.social

How do adolescents in a low-income, semi-rural South African community navigate the dual promise and peril of social media.

Preprint coming soon…

📆 12.09, 13h00, LK053
September 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A brilliant piece by Belinda Matore at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. Worth a read on this winter’s Sunday.

www.news24.com/opinions/col...
OPINION | Empowering kids online: How SA can protect its most vulnerable digital citizens | News24
While the internet provides children with access to education, entertainment, and social connections, it also exposes them to significant risks, writes Belinda Matore.
www.news24.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
This is not something I've seen raised enough yet. An ethical supply chain that fuels AI... We have to build a world where AI serves, and is safe, for all.

aylgorith.com/the-hidden-c...
The Hidden Cost Of AI: How Africa Fuels Global AI While Being Left Behind - Aylgorith
An investigation reveals how African children mine cobalt for AI data centers while university graduates develop PTSD training ChatGPT's safety systems for under $2/hour—exposing the hidden human cost...
aylgorith.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Digital media and its impact on children and adolescents.

Listening (and watching) this online while working. Very interesting, simulating and insightful. Tune in again at 11am (GMT +2).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKo6...
Digital media and its impact on children and adolescents – livestreamed Nordic and EU expert meeting
YouTube video by Folkhälsomyndigheten
www.youtube.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:54 AM
A platform like Bluesky gives me access to a world full of people smarter than me. Thankful for that all the time. ✨
March 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Published a few weeks ago and I'm only getting around to reading it now. This is a comprehensive, insightful and balanced article on the debate around social media and/or smartphone bans. Read it.

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/f...
Social media bans for teens: Australia has passed one, should other countries follow suit?
A block for under-16s would soothe many parents’ concerns, but experts are divided over the evidence in support of it, and how it might work in practice
www.theguardian.com
March 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Yes yes yes 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Imagine if media literacy as a high school class. Literally teaching kids how to read and parse and fact check consumed media. I see no downsides. Maximum real life applicability.
February 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Mienke Mari Steytler
Researchers Ryan McGrady, Ethan Zuckerman, and Kevin Zheng argue that if we want responsible policy about social media, it begins with making it possible for American researchers to answer fundamental questions about how social media is shaping our public discourse.
AI Companies Threaten Independent Social Media Research | TechPolicy.Press
UMass Amherst researchers argue that researcher access to social media data should be one of the rare things all political factions in the US can agree on.
www.techpolicy.press
January 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Mienke Mari Steytler
The #ICA25 Communication and Technology Travel Grant is here! To apply, please fill out this grant application form by March 15, 2025: https://buff.ly/3PXgxnF
February 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM