By Claus Elnegaard Hansen, Director at Digitana
As the world becomes increasingly digitalized, we face great challenges and opportunities. At Digitana, we focus on an enlightened society where technology serves the people and strengthens our democratic institutions. Our commitment to the Algorithms, Data, and Democracy project (ADD project) is driven by a belief that through education and dialogue, we can achieve this goal.
At Digitana, we focus on parents, primary schools, and our children, as it is the children who grow up deeply rooted in a digital age. Danish children and young people encounter digital technologies daily, which affect their learning, social relationships, and self-understanding. Therefore, it is essential that we not only teach them to navigate technology but also to understand its underlying mechanisms, challenges, and potential. We need to teach them about the role of algorithms in their daily lives and show them how data about their behavior is used—and often misused—in digital contexts. We believe this understanding is the foundation for them to become critical and informed citizens in a digitalized society.
Children and young people are growing up in a time where digital technologies are omnipresent. They navigate a world where algorithms influence everything from the news they see to the social interactions they participate in. Therefore, it is crucial that we not only teach them to use technology but also to understand it—that they learn how their data is used and how algorithms can shape their perception of the world. Through our participation in the ADD project, we are working purposefully to integrate technological understanding as a cornerstone of the Danish education sector. Our approach is holistic; we see algorithms and data not just as technical tools but as integrated elements in societal processes that can and should be shaped to support a more open, equal, and just society.
Through dialogue and cooperation with partners in the Digitana project, including schools, organizations, school students, and political institutions, we strive to make digital education a central part of how we think and practice community and democracy in Denmark. We believe that the work is crucial to ensure that digital development takes shape in a way that respects citizens’ rights and supports societal needs, rather than solely serving commercial interests.
Our vision is a society where every citizen is able to assess and influence technological development. At Digitana, we are delighted to commit ourselves to teaching children and young people to become critical thinkers and informed participants in their digital environments. Through interactive learning opportunities and dialogue-based teaching methods, we engage young people so they can develop into educated and reflective citizens.
We are pleased to be partners in the ADD project and appreciate the opportunity to contribute. For us, it is not just a professional task but a passion and a responsibility we carry in our hearts. We look forward to the continued development and the new opportunities this collaboration will bring, both for young people and for society as a whole.