MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

Is all environmental education a step in the right direction? The increasing number of children’s environmental websites aims to educate kids about environmental issues and potential solutions. However, this analysis of one eco-friendly site—PBS Kids Go’s EekoWorld—demonstrates how site design, framing of environmental issues, and the underestimation of young site users can impact youth site participation, creative thinking, and understanding of environmental issues.

First, this presentation will explore the ways that environmental information is framed for children online, through the problems and solutions that are emphasized on the site, the language that is used to describe those problems and solutions, and the options and restrictions that are set up for child site users. Second, the presentation will examine youth responses to message framing and site design, and how youth negotiate restrictions on the site’s forums. Message framing and site design indicate adults’ low expectations for both the capacity of youth to understand complex environmental issues and their ability to help solve environmental problems in real, meaningful ways. Less restrictive areas of the site, however, demonstrate the potential for youth to contribute in surprising ways when they are allowed to think creatively and share ideas with others freely.