Project: Online Safety

This research program focuses on addressing online safety issues among vulnerable social groups.

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This research program aims to help vulnerable social groups (e.g., children, women) understand the potential harms of emerging technologies and contribute to various measures (including but not limited to policies and regulations) to counter such harms. Our approach is to engage the public in such discussions and decision-making as early as possible. As early as in the 2010s, we conducted a five-country (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh) comparative study focusing on youth, funded by International Development Research Center, Canada. Recently, we worked closely with UNESCO to run training workshops to implement the UNESCO Guideline for the Governance of Digital Platforms and Generative AI.

Recent Publications

  1. Zhang, W. & Ho, W. Y. (2023). Demystifying Portrayals of Harmful Content on YouTube and TikTok. Retrieved 18 December 2023 from https://www.tinyurl.com/onlineharmreport    
  2. Zhang, W., Chen, Z., Chia, Y-T., & Neoh, J. Y. (2022). Rethinking civic education in the digital era: How media, school, and young people negotiate the meaning of citizenship. International Communication Gazette, 84 (4), 287-305. https://doi.org/10.1177/17480485221094101
  3. Zhang, W. (2022). Political disengagement among youth: A comparison between 2011 and 2020. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.809432
  4. Zhang, W. & Lallana, E. (2013). Editorial of “Youth, ICTs, and Civic Engagement in Asia”. International Communication Gazette, 75(3), 249-252.
  5. Zhang, W. (2013). Redefining youth activism through digital technology in Singapore. International Communication Gazette, 75(3), 253-270. [slides] a. Reprinted in Youth Culture and Activism in Southeast Asia. ISEAS, 2015.
  6. Zhang, W. & David, C. (2012). Youth engagement and ICTs in Southeast Asia: Reflections on emerging trends. In M. M. Skoric, M. Sachs, & P. Parycek (Eds.), Proceedings of CeDEM Asia 2012, Singapore.

Partner Institutions

This research was funded by UNU Global AI Network, UNSECO and I4T Knowledge Network, NUS-University of Sydney Partnership Fund, International Development Research Center, Canada through ideacorp, the Philippines, and NUS' FASS start-up grant. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funder.

UNU Global AI Networki4t knowledge networkUNESCOIDRCUniversity of Sydney