MNHQ here - The Courier newspaper wants to know your views on this initiative by the Scottish government

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been approached by the Courier newspaper, who want to know what Mumsnet users think about the Scottish Government's Children and Young People's Panel on Europe.

As you'll see from this tweet, some responses have been negative, accusing the Scottish government/the SNP of trying to indoctrinate children, and a spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives speaking to the Courier has characterised it as 'pressurising 8 year olds'. Some have pointed out that children under 13 are not (according to the terms of service) supposed to be on Twitter.

What do you reckon? Is it legitimate for the Scottish government to be seeking the views of children from the age of 8 upwards on Brexit (or an any issue)? Does it matter that they're publicising it on Twitter?

Any thoughts welcome!

Thanks
MNHQ

Some have pointed out that children under 13 are not (according to the terms of service) supposed to be on Twitter.

The link says this is for young people aged 8-18 though. So I don’t see the problem with it being promoted on Twitter, given a lot of 13-18 year olds will be on there.

Giving young people a forum to discuss political issues that concern them already happens with things like Youth Parliament and Children’s Parliament. These seem like good things to have no matter what party’s in power. Not sure why the Scottish Conservatives have suddenly decided it’s child indoctrination just because Brexit’s involved?

I think seeking views on Twitter is a good idea for older kids 13+ who are allowed to be on there.

However I do have concerns about safeguarding and the mixed messages as kids are taught from a young age about safety online. This seems to encourage/condone breaking the very rules that are there to protect them.

My 11 year old also couldn't care less about brexit and has some understanding of it, but his views will have been shaped and influenced by myself and others around him. Rather than him fully understanding and having an informed personal viewpoint on the matter.

I would also like to add, I'm an adult who has a good sound knowledge of politics and keep up to date and I haven't got a clue what's going on, other than we're leaving and the Tories are infighting over any and every proposed idea.

Some of those twitter responses are bordering on hysterical.

If you read the document this is a panel which requires the child and their parent to attend a selection day in Edinburgh and then if chosen a training day and four panel discussions.

All with their parents.

The only Twitter involment is in the advertising.

They are advertising on Twitter to the parents of kids who might be interested in this sort of thing as well as teenagers who might see it for themselves.

It’s hardly “indoctrination” to suggest that Brexit might lead to big or difficult changes. Anyone who has been with in spitting distance of a tv, radio, newspaper orinternet news site in the last three years can hardly have escaped hearing that.

Given that the younger generation are the ones who will be most impacted by the consequences of Brexit why shouldn’t they be given an opportunity to discuss it?

Of course it’s a good idea. Why on earth wouldn’t we engage with this age group? Brexit is their future as much, if not more, as it is ours.

I am scunnered, that of all the perfectly valid reasons to go for the SNP, anyone would manage to come up with this as the one to focus on.

We have a shite voting turnout across the UK from young people (and people in general) so it beggars belief that anyone would find something negative in an initiative that’s trying to encourage kids to engage with politics.

Also, they’re using Twitter as a way to signpost to the website. Not to share their views or data there. Twitter’s a perfectly valid way to reach professionals and parents who could encourage their pupils/DC to get involved.

This would probably get more replies if posted on Scotsnet too.

I think it's an excellent idea and I have forwarded it on to my (politically very aware) 17 year old ds, to see if he is interested.

He was very pissed off at not being able to vote in the Referendum.

Why the need for a discussion? What's a nine year old going to get out of that? Kids should be out playing while they can not providing ammunition for politicians to further a political view.
Obviously it's going to be an anti Brexit charade, Mike Russell's not going to have photoshoots with a crowd of beaming kids who want out of the EU is he?
Probably in contravention of UNCRC as well: Article 36 (other forms of exploitation) Governments must protect children
from all other forms of exploitation, for example the exploitation of children for political activities, by the media or for medical research.

Well, it's easy to see (and no kind of surprise) what kind of SNPbad story the Courier is planning to run. Can the spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives please ask Ruthie about the dark money scandal, and when she'll be available to speak to her constituents? Maybe the Courier could run that story.

I think it's a great idea. Children are often more politically aware than people give them credit for. It's their future which is being changed by Brexit. When my old class held a discussion before Brexit (9 & 10 year olds) I was surprised by how much they knew. We had a vote at the end of it. Out of a class of 29, only 2 wanted to leave Europe.

I don't see what's so bad about trying to engage with children on this or any other subject likely to affect their future. And I totally disagree that this is 'child exploitation'.

Nothing wrong with getting older children at least interested in the world around them. Though that could happen in the classroom if it was really for the benefit of the children.

I suspect that this might be about using children as propaganda tools.
Can we expect happy looking children over a caption saying "Do you want to steal their future by leaving the EU?"

Even if it were the other way around that would be wrong.

My first thought is that it's rather late in proceedings to be doing this.

Age is slightly irrelevant regarding Twitter though, because 8 year olds may not be on Twitter themselves, but may have parents or older siblings who are, and can direct them to this.

However I really, really hope this was circulated to schools before the holidays. If they want as broad a reach as possible, having the deadline the week before schools go back is bonkers.

Thank you all for your thoughts - we'll pass them on!