Call for Papers:

AI, Children and Youth: Transforming Media, Play, and Social Interaction
Mid-Term Conference of the Children, Youth and Media (CYM) Section of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA)
Sevilla, Spain
November 19-21, 2025
https://eventos.us.es/138341/detail/ai-children-and-youth-transforming-media-play-and-social-interaction.html

Deadline for early bird submissions: September 10, 2025 (inclusive)
Deadline for late submissions: October 15, 2025 (inclusive)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is (re)defining the way children and teenagers relate to media, play, as well as their social interactions. Through chatbots and voice assistants, applications (storytelling, language learning, emotional recognition, etc.), and virtual/interactive educational games, AI-driven tools are becoming essential companions in their digital experiences. This conference aims to explore the cultural and social impacts of these changes, focusing on AI’s influence on digital self-expression, play-related experiences, intergenerational relationships, and audio-visual production. Rather than perceiving AI merely as a neutral instrument, our goal is to explore its role as a cultural force that guides the ways in which young individuals relate to media and the world surrounding them.

From this standpoint, we seek submissions that examine the role of play (both physical and digital) within artificial intelligence: as a medium for literacy development; to personalize the learning experience by adapting activities based on a child’s responses; to simulate and create virtual realities where children can establish forms of communication with one another (e.g., Animal Crossing); for narrative construction and image generation; to explore their environment through a dual modality of discovery (e.g., Pokemon Go); and in instances where the user is required to engage physically, among other aspects. How do these factors shape the way youngsters learn, play and interact with each other?

In this sense, AI driven tools present new creative opportunities for young people, yet they may also limit these opportunities due to algorithmic biases and the lack of autonomy in children’s decision-making. AI tools for content creation, such as story generation or character illustration may be configured to reinforce biases related to race or gender (e.g., “create a character” and the image generated is a white male). Simultaneously, algorithmic personalization, which depends on user data (e.g., likes, previous choices, etc.), has an impact on the construction of media referents and the identities of young individuals. As AI customizes content according to “preferences” and responses, children and adolescents are presented with specific representations that either reinforce stereotypes or, conversely, exclude them from certain categories. Such exposure can significantly influence the identity that youth develop.

Furthermore, contributions exploring the influence of AI on intergenerational relationships are also encouraged. Children’s exposure and engagement with AI-based content can sometimes exceed the understanding of parents and caregivers. However, AI also presents opportunities for fostering intergenerational connections. For instance, AI-driven educational games may create a collaborative environment where both children and adults can jointly explore the ethical, creative, and social ramifications of emerging technologies.

Ultimately, as audiovisual media remains central to Communication Studies, AI is also transforming the practices of content creators who produce for young audiences. The increasing use of generative AI in the creative industries has raised concern among screenwriters and animators, triggering debates around authorship, ethics, and creative ownership, as evidenced by recent writers’ strikes and the controversy surrounding AI- generated images that imitate established artistic styles. Simultaneously, children’s media also incorporates these issues into its narratives, often oscillating between utopian promise and dystopian threat, as seen in films like The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Mike Rianda, 2021) or The Wild Robot (Chris Sanders, 2024). These representations are key in shaping how youth think about and relate to technology, trust, and agency, highlighting the need to analyze both the production and depiction of AI in contemporary storytelling and animation.

KEY TOPICS (INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO):

• Definitions and fundamentals of AI related to childhood context.
• Regulations and norms on AI in media for children and teenagers.
• Ethical and social concerns regarding AI in youth media.
• AI-driven play based on child responses.
• AI games that promote movement and interaction with the environment.
• Interactive AI games for narrative building and image generation.
• Digital literacy in children through AI-based play and ethical considerations.
• Content mediation and parenting in the age of AI.
• Transformations in children’s communicative practices in AI.
• Role of algorithmic recommendation in the shaping of children’s media identities.
• AI and the reinforcement of cultural stereotypes in visual and narrative constructs.
• Ideological discourses present in AI-driven media narratives for children and youth.
• Role of AI in creating shared learning experiences across generations.
• Representations of AI in film and television for children and youth.
• Authorship, consent, and the aesthetics of appropriation in AI-generated art.
• Intersection of AI and artistic labor exploring the challenges faced by animators and writers.

FORMAT AND PARTICIPATION

This CYM Mid-Term Conference 2025 will be held over three days, divided into different thematic blocks.

PHD WORKSHOP – Wednesday, November 19:
This workshop is aimed at PhD students, and its main objective is to promote networking among participants before the start of the congress. It will be a meeting place to share lines of research, explore possible forms of collaboration, and encourage the creation of academic networks.
In addition to the open discussion and the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting, the meeting will include a couple of talks focused on the use of artificial intelligence in relation to some of the key topics of the congress, which will be detailed in the program soon.

CONFERENCE – Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21:
During these two days the congress will be held in its usual format, with parallel round tables dedicated to different thematic lines. We will have the participation of keynote speakers specialized in children’s content and/or artificial intelligence. Also, there will be video essay projection sessions in the Home Cinema room, in order to give visibility to this format as a legitimate form of research and creation in academia.

The conference prioritizes face-to-face participation. The hybrid modality will only be considered in exceptional cases that justify it. In the case of video-essays, the physical presence of the author will not be mandatory, although it is recommended in case the audience wishes to ask questions after the screening.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submissions may consist of either individual presentations or panel proposals comprising no more than five contributors or co-authors. Proposals that are inter or multidisciplinary in nature are encouraged, and submissions from early-stage researchers are welcomed. We also consider the possibility of including video essays as a format of participation. A video essay is a short audiovisual piece that develops an argument, theory or critical analysis using the expressive tools of audiovisual language (editing, voice-over, music, or the use of images, including clips from films, series, animations, etc.). Video essays should be between 4 and 10 minutes long and must include English subtitles if the audio is in Spanish.

The INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL should include the following information:

• Title of the proposal
• Abstract (max. 300 words)
• Author name(s), institutional affiliation(s) and short bio (max. 100 words)

The PANEL PROPOSAL should include the following information:

• Panel abstract (max. 300 words)
• A maximum of 4–5 papers, each with:
  1. Paper title
  2. Abstract (max. 150 words)
  3. Author’s name and affiliation
  4. Short bio (max. 100 words)

Note: All participants must register individually once the panel is accepted.

The abstract should clearly state the topic of the research, the main arguments or research questions, its relevance to the conference theme, the theoretical framework and/or methodology used, as well as the expected findings or contributions.

Abstracts must be submitted in English. However, the registration form includes an option to indicate a preference for presenting in Spanish. Should a significant number of proposals be submitted in Spanish, a dedicated session in Spanish will be organized within the conference program.

The organizing committee is currently in contact with academic journals and publishing houses to explore potential publications arising from the conference. Additional details will be provided communicated in due course.

Here on the website, you’ll find a language selection tab at the top right corner. In the “Proposal Submission” section, you can fill out the form and submit your abstract. To do so, you will need to log in through your university or create an account as an external user — only then will the submission form become available.

For any questions, please contact us through the “Contact” section or by email at ecrea.cym.2025.sevilla@us.es.

SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES

Early bird submission deadline: September 10 (inclusive)
Notification of acceptance: by September 25

Late submission deadline: October 15 (inclusive)
Notification of acceptance: by November 1

Please note: Abstracts will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis as they are received, aiming for the shortest possible turnaround time. If you submit an abstract after the early bird notification deadline (September 25), we may still be able to provide an acceptance decision by October 5 to allow registration at the early bird rate. However, this cannot be guaranteed, and the time available to complete payment will be shorter. Same applies for the late registration dates.

*To view the fees and deadlines for early and late registration, please visit the “Registration” section of the conference website.

ORGANIZERS

This conference is a Mid-Term Conference of the Children, Youth and Media (CYM) Section of ECREA, supported by Universidad de Sevilla (Spain).