Apr 18, 2022 07:00:00

As the number of programs that teach children cryptocurrencies and VR is increasing, there is also the question 'Is cryptocurrency and NFT really useful for children's future?'

Summer vacation is a valuable time for children to be freed from school every day, spending time with their families, enjoying sports and hobbies, and devoting themselves to activities that they cannot usually do. In the United States, it is reported that programs that teach cutting-edge technologies such as 'virtual currency, VR, artificial intelligence, and drones' are increasing at summer camps where children participate during the summer vacation.

Kids' summer camp teaches children about cryptocurrency, virtual reality, Web3 --Vox

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23020971/crypto-kids-nfts-web3-education-summer-camp

During the 2022 summer vacation in Los Angeles, USA, a summer camp called ' Crypto Kids Camp ' will be held with dozens of children aged 5 to 17 years old. At Crypto Kids Camp, which will be held for the third time this time, children will be divided into four age groups, and in a schedule of about one week, 'blockchain, virtual currency, mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber security, VR, online games' Teach children about all cutting-edge technologies such as 'Drone' through hands-on games and activities.

The participation fee for Crypto Kids Camp is $ 500 (about 63,000 yen), but children from economically disadvantaged families can also participate with a scholarship. Naja Roberts, founder of Crypto Kids Camp, argues that the camp closes the wealth gap between privileged and underserved children. You can open your heart to children by not only teaching them that they have a job that uses such technology, but also by teaching them that they can actually create a specific job, platform, or game. Said Roberts.

Children participating in Crypto Kids Camp will be rented laptops, drones, robots, VR headsets, smartphones with virtual transit wallets, and Roberts said that children will receive gadgets as if they were receiving gadgets. It's like Christmas. ' Crypto Kids Camp will be deployed in 6 states in the United States by the summer of 2022 and 41 locations in the United States by the fall.

The program to educate children about virtual currencies is not limited to Crypto Kids Camp, but similar programs such as those sponsored by

universities such as the University of Pennsylvania and those held online will be held in various parts of the United States.

In addition, there are many ' programs that explain blockchain for children ' on YouTube, and Zigazoo, also known as ' TikTok for children,' sells NFT packages for children. 'We are trying to teach children digital and financial literacy, create their own art, and empower them to build the future of the web,' said Zigazoo founder Zack Ringlestein. I did.

Cryptocurrency education programs for children supplement personal financial education that is not taught in compulsory education, and are touted as helping to get a better job in the future. However, foreign media Vox said that the risk of being exposed to NFT project scams and cryptocurrency scams is clearly higher than traditional financial products, and the question is, 'Is cryptocurrency and blockchain really the future that children should prepare?' Point out that remains.

'I've heard that there is an industry that socializes young children about very dangerous products, and it's actually a little scary,' said Professor Joyce Serido, a professor of financial behavior at home at the University of Minnesota. .. Mr. Serido is in a position to provide financial education to children as soon as possible, but virtual currencies are still unstable and he is concerned about the harmful effects of teaching children.

'Telling that the ratio of those who make a lot of money with cryptocurrencies to those who lose all their fortunes is 1 to 1000 will not affect children aged 15 to 18 years old,' he said. I'm myself. ' According to Mr. Serido, if you want to teach your child virtual currency, you can actually give them about $ 5 (about 630 yen) to manage the virtual currency or play a stock market simulation game. It's good. He also argued that it was important to teach children the ability to control their impulses and how to find reliable sources.

Teachers who actually interact with children are also beginning to realize that they are enthusiastic about platforms where they can buy cryptocurrencies. Originally, these platforms are only available to adults, but some children are trading using accounts set up by their parents, and one Virginia teacher said that students are trading cryptocurrencies and stocks. He said he saw an interest in sports gambling.

A teacher who interviewed under the pseudonym Nate commented, 'If children become fans of Elon Musk, they are probably interested in cryptocurrencies.' Also, in a class about art generated by AI, he said, 'There were a lot of 6th grade boys who were excited to be able to convert art into NFT and sell it,' and it is a cool fashion for children who do not yet know what NFT is. I testified that I was thinking.

In recent years, it has been reported in various countries that

children have made a lot of money with NFTs, and entrepreneurs have become heroic to children. 'I'm fascinated by the familiarity of young children with these emerging technologies,' said Serido, but argued that adults have a mission to navigate children, cryptocurrencies and NFTs. , Web3 education is reluctant.

Educators such as Roberts believe that their knowledge and experience of cryptocurrencies and Web3 will be useful in the future and hope that their children will be prepared. 'It's great that everyone wants to talk about coding, but what's next? Adults want their children to have the same education as they do, but it's even faster. Because children are the future, 'Roberts said.