NAIROBI, Kenya- In an era where children are venturing online at an unprecedented rate—every half second, according to UNICEF—the internet is both a playground and a minefield.
While platforms like social media open doors to learning, skill development, and social connections, they also expose young users to risks such as privacy breaches, cyberbullying, and even exploitation.
At the 2024 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, experts and stakeholders discussed strategies to protect children while enabling them to thrive in the digital world.
As children spend more time online, the content they encounter and the individuals they interact with often come without filters.
Syed Munir, chairperson of the Institute for Policy, Advocacy and Governance (IPAG), emphasized the internet’s positive role for marginalized children and those with disabilities.
Digital platforms, he argued, provide lifelines for education and skill-building. Munir urged a pivot from restrictive regulations to creating safer digital spaces, citing the failure of many rules designed to block children’s access.
Social media giants like Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger) have taken steps to shield younger users. Platforms now enforce a minimum age limit of 13 for account creation and offer features designed to enhance safety.
For instance, Messenger Kids allows parents to oversee their children’s activities through a Parent Dashboard. Parents can manage friends, monitor interactions, and adjust account settings directly from their Facebook accounts.
Deepali Liberhan, Meta’s Global Director of Safety Policy, explained that the company has over 50 features focused on child safety.
These include restricting unwanted adult interactions on teen accounts, limiting exposure to sensitive content, and providing educational resources tailored for younger audiences.
To tackle screen time, Instagram sends notifications encouraging users to log off after an hour and automatically enables “sleep mode” for notifications from 10 PM to 7 AM.
“Managing children’s time online is just as crucial as managing what they see,” Liberhan noted.
The consensus at the IGF was clear: ensuring children’s online safety requires collaboration among governments, tech companies, and civil society.
By combining education, innovative technology, and robust safety policies, stakeholders aim to empower young users while safeguarding them from harm.
In the words of Munir, “The solution isn’t to shut children out of the digital world but to create an environment where they can learn, connect, and grow safely.”
