Geneva: The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for urgent action to better protect children from growing dangers in the online world, warning that digital platforms must do more to ensure the safety and well being of young users.
The appeal comes as children and teenagers spend increasing amounts of time on social media, online gaming platforms, messaging applications and artificial intelligence powered services. While digital technology offers many opportunities for learning, communication and creativity, experts say it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, privacy violations and mental health challenges.
Speaking on the issue, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stressed that technology companies should place child safety at the centre of product development rather than treating it as an afterthought. The rights office said governments and digital platforms share responsibility for creating a safer online environment where children can learn and interact without being exposed to unnecessary harm.
The warning reflects a growing global debate about how best to protect young people on the internet. In recent months, several countries have proposed or introduced stricter regulations aimed at limiting children's exposure to online risks. Australia has taken one of the strongest steps by introducing rules requiring social media companies to prevent children under the age of 16 from creating accounts. Similar discussions are taking place in several European countries where policymakers are examining ways to strengthen online safety measures.
Supporters of stricter regulations argue that social media platforms often expose children to harmful material and addictive features that can affect mental health and emotional development. They say stronger age verification systems and tighter controls are necessary to reduce these risks.
However, child rights organisations have cautioned that age restrictions alone may not solve the problem. UNICEF and other advocacy groups have argued that while governments have a duty to protect children, technology companies must also redesign their platforms to make them safer. Experts warn that simply banning young people from mainstream platforms could push them towards less regulated online spaces where risks may be even greater.
The European Union has also increased its focus on child safety in the digital space. European leaders have recently discussed stronger safeguards against what they describe as addictive platform designs that encourage excessive screen time among children. The bloc is working on new age verification systems intended to protect minors while respecting users' privacy rights.
Health professionals are also adding their voices to the debate. Medical organisations in the United Kingdom recently called for stronger action to address the impact of social media on children. Some experts have compared the growing concerns surrounding excessive social media use to earlier public health campaigns that targeted smoking and other harmful behaviours.
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has created additional challenges. Child protection groups warn that AI technologies can sometimes expose children to misleading information, inappropriate content or manipulation if proper safeguards are not in place. Researchers are now studying how AI systems can be designed to better recognise and respond to the needs of younger users.
Many experts believe that a comprehensive approach is needed to address online risks. They recommend stronger platform accountability, better content moderation, improved privacy protections, digital literacy education and greater involvement from parents, schools and communities.
As governments around the world consider new laws and regulations, the United Nations has made it clear that protecting children online is no longer an issue that can be postponed. With digital technologies becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life, ensuring that children can use them safely is emerging as one of the most significant challenges facing policymakers, technology companies and society as a whole.
The debate is now moving beyond simply controlling access to online platforms. Increasingly, attention is turning toward creating a digital environment that is safe by design and built with the rights and welfare of children at its core.