The importance of consulting children and young people about data literacy

Given the importance of data skills to the economy, and the skills shortage within data science, educational policy makers have identified the importance of including technical and analytical data skills in the curriculum. An equally important aim is to educate children and young people to become data citizens who are aware of the current uses of data in society, able to use data to make decisions in their lives, and are actively engaged in critiquing the societal implications of future uses of data. The paper will explore the meanings of data citizenship, in light of the findings of a consultation with 96 children and young people (aged between 10 and 16 years old, from 11 schools in [blank for review]) and the wider conceptual debates on citizenship and children and young people’s rights to privacy, participation and education.