What's in a name
Why 'Children of the Revolution'?
In the 18th and 19th centuries, during the British Industrial Revolution, children were used as cheap, expendable labour, working long hours in dangerous conditions.
Just as we look back in horror at the reality of children’s lives in the industrial revolution, we believe that in centuries to come, people will look back at the reality of our children’s lives today against the backdrop of this new revolution with the same sense of moral outrage.
During the British Industrial Revolution, it was the shift in social conscience, and the creation of broad social alliances, involving individuals across society including authors, charities, philanthropists, politicians and the public that led to meaningful change.
Laws matter, but we also need a shift to our social conscience in this new, emerging revolution.
Let’s learn from revolutions in our past to create a moral revolution of our own.
Why
Why have we created Children of the Revolution?
Data is at the heart of our lives and as we emerge into the 5th industrial revolution, the power of data and technology is only increasing. Whilst it can be a force for good, it can also be a force for bad. Too often it is those members of our society who are most vulnerable and who have the least power that are the most significantly and negatively impacted
We want to acknowledge the responsibility we all have to support wide public engagement and encourage a bold reimagining of the vision for us and our children. This site allows us to publish The Commitments we have signed up to in the hope that others will sign up to them too. We want to move away from a digital world built on profit and exploitation, to one built for human flourishing and recognise that this is a responsibility we all share.
What
What do we want Children of the Revolution to do?
This website was originally created in response to the UK Government Curriculum Review in 2024, and published our Response to the Review, accompanied by an Open Letter.
Whilst that Review has been concluded, we remain committed to playing our part.
We want to continue to use this website to support engagement as well as publicly state our intention to live by our Commitments, and encourage others to do the same.
Regardless of the size of our organisation, nature of our role, or level of our influence, what we do matters. Every decision we make, or fail to make, has consequences.
Let's not underestimate the power of collective action.
Who
Who are the founders of Children of the Revolution?
We all work in the world of data in some capacity and have seen the trajectory we have been on and the harms that continue to emerge. It is our view that we have both a professional and ethical responsibility to do all we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable in our society, understanding the way our digital world can impact them. Our aim is to encourage a community wide commitment to build a kinder and safer future for everyone.
These are as much issues of humanity as they are technology and voices from across society need to be heard.
We cannot do much, but we cannot do nothing.
If not now, when?
If not us, who?