Between YouTube and AI: Parental perspectives on technology in early childhood national identity education

This study explores how Hong Kong parents of kindergarten children perceive and use digital technologies, ranging from YouTube to generative artificial intelligence (AI), to support national identity education. Drawing on focus group data from 21 parents of four Hong Kong kindergartens, the research examines parental practices in selecting and employing digital resources, attitudes toward AI and emerging technologies, and views on the future of home-school collaboration in a digital age. Thematic analysis reveals both widespread, often reactive, reliance on mainstream digital media such as YouTube and a near-total absence of personal engagement with AI-powered educational tools. Parents express enthusiasm for school-led digital innovation but also articulate significant concerns about content quality, screen time, privacy, and the importance of human connection. The paper discusses these findings in relation to current literature and policy, offering recommendations for the ethical integration of technology in early childhood education.