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Governmentality within Children's Technological Play: Findings from a Critical Discourse Analysis
Author(s) -
Silcock Mary,
Payne Deborah,
Hocking Clare
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/chso.12123
Subject(s) - governmentality , sociology , discipline , context (archaeology) , perspective (graphical) , critical discourse analysis , power (physics) , the internet , emerging technologies , michel foucault , discourse analysis , media studies , politics , social science , political science , law , history , computer science , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , world wide web , linguistics , philosophy , ideology
In many countries today, digital technology and instant communication are embedded in children's everyday lives to the extent that their play frequently incorporates smartphones, the Internet and other technologies. In this paper, we explore the recent historical conditions within the New Zealand context that have increased the accessibility of these technologies and imbued them with particular meanings. We suggest that from a Foucauldian perspective, these technologies can be seen as a form of subtle disciplinary power using techniques of governmentality through which children's ways of thinking are shaped to benefit societal requirements of the current historical era.