This short report summarizes the key findings of a large-scale international child participation study conducted by Professor Amanda Third and Lilly Moody from the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University on behalf of the 5Rights Foundation and with the support of 27 partner organizations from around the world. More than 700 children worldwide took part in workshops and discussed how their rights to protection, empowerment, and participation can be realized in the digital environment.
A total of eight prerequisites for a safe and child-friendly internet were developed in various workshops with children and young people:
- Affordable, accessible, and reliable access to devices and networks
- Age-appropriate content in one's own language
- Measures to prevent and eliminate discriminatory or aggressive behavior so that everyone can have equal access and opportunities
- Trustworthy and truthful information, including more transparent information from online services themselves about how personal data is used.
- More privacy, especially less surveillance by commercial companies and parents
- Better understanding and digital literacy among parents
- Services that protect against attacks and abuse
- Access to confidential and trustworthy sources for health information.
About the 5Rights Foundation
The 5Rights Foundation designs new policy frameworks, develops innovative projects, and challenges existing views to ensure that governments, the tech sector, and society understand, recognize, and prioritize the needs and rights of children in the digital world. Our work is pragmatic and actionable, enabling us to collaborate with governments, intergovernmental institutions, professional bodies, academics, and young people around the world to build the digital world that young people deserve.
About the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University
The Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University, Australia, uses user-centered, participatory, and collaborative methods to research and develop technology-based products, services, and policy measures. These are designed to strengthen the resilience of children, young people, and their communities, enabling them to live well and participate fully in social and economic life.
The center is strongly committed to supporting children in realizing their rights in the digital environment. To achieve this, it has collaborated with many children's organizations around the world. A large consultation with children in over 70 countries was conducted to incorporate their insights and experiences into decision-making that affects their daily lives in the digital age.
westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient
Table of Contents:
Foreword
Background
Summary
Methodology
Key Themes
1. Access to the Internet as a Right
2. Information
3. Expression, Identity, and Culture
4. Leisure and Play
5. Privacy
6. The Role of Parents
7. Protection
8. Health
Conclusion
Foreword
This brief report summarizes the key findings of a large-scale international child participation study conducted by Professor Amanda Third and Lilly Moody from the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University on behalf of the 5Rights Foundation and with the support of 27 partner organizations from around the world. The full results of the study will be published in spring 2021.
When children around the world go online, the digital world becomes their reality. Digital culture and practices are inextricably linked to every other aspect of their childhood. For this reason, we welcome the development of the “General Comment on Children's Rights in the Digital Environment.” Our thanks go to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, to those who are part of or have supported the 5Rights steering group, to the team at Western Sydney University, Kathryn Snowden, Imagist, and each of the 27 partner organizations that conducted workshops. Above all, however, we would like to thank the children who participated: your views have been incorporated into the General Comment, which we hope will enable children and young people around the world to have the digital environment they deserve.
Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE
Chairperson, 5Rights Foundation
Croatia, girl, 12: Technology is very important, and it will continue to be so in the future. It's difficult to communicate without it. Everything is here, on my cell phone. I can find information on almost anything. I can talk to my friends whenever and wherever I want. The world is moving forward, and so must we.
The full report in German can be downloaded here as a PDF.