Children want the digital world to protect them directly, not just through their parents.
7.1 Grooming and abduction
According to children, experiences of violence on the internet are widespread. They express concern that abductions are facilitated by location sharing, tracking, and catfishing.
Nepal, girl, 14: Many social crimes such as rape, abduction, murder, etc. occur in the digital environment. Technologies such as laptops, cell phones, Facebook, computers, etc. are the main sources of these crimes.
Indonesia, girl, 16: Digital media can lead to abductions. Not only in our social environment, but when we share our location, abductors can track us from there.
Brazil, girl, 15: Technology has made abductions easier because some teenagers meet people secretly.
Canada, girl, 14 years old: Nowadays, it's incredibly easy to catfish people, and children are very impressionable, which makes them easy targets if they have an online persona. It's important to remember that they have the right to be protected from abduction, which can happen more easily if they are persuaded to meet someone in person.
Philippines, girl, age unknown: Children are very vulnerable on social media these days, with some syndicates ... using social media to exploit children for their own gain.
Children are concerned that social media is being used by perpetrators as a tool to initiate contact with children, exploit them, and abduct them. Children want to know that they are safe when they are online.
Pakistan, gender and age unknown: We should not reveal our location. Anyone can track you down. We should not trust anyone on the internet. We should not add strangers as friends on the internet.
Croatia, girl, 13: Internet violence is a type of psychological violence via messages, social media, etc. It is much worse than physical violence because it leaves much deeper scars.
7.2 Violent and adult content
Almost without exception, children say that greater efforts should be made to prevent violence and sexual contact and content.
Lebanon, gender and age unknown: Online dangers such as verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying can lead to problems in real life.
Philippines, girl, age unknown: You can also come across disturbing photos or videos showing inappropriate, abusive, and sexual acts... There are cases where someone uses another person's identity to talk to that person or to trade sexual pornography online.
Croatia, boy, 12: A child can become a victim of sexual, psychological (online), and physical abuse. Online violence is when someone harasses children via messages.
South Africa, gender and age unknown: Nude photos can go viral without your intention.
Canada, girl, 17: Nowadays, there is so much negative and exploitative/degrading content/websites that take advantage of minority groups, women, and children, which can have negative and dangerous effects on those being exploited.
Children around the world want more protection from inappropriate and violent content and more support for victims.
Croatia, girl, 12: Cyberbullying is when people send you messages like ‘I hate you’ or ‘You're ugly!’. It's when someone asks you to send inappropriate photos of yourself, or when people use your information against you. Cyberbullying also means forming hate groups, insulting people, and making fun of them.
7.3 Bullying
Children raise a number of issues that make cyberbullying harmful, including its impact on mental health and school performance.
Philippines, girl, age unknown: I know that cyberbullying is one of the reasons for depression in children and adolescents, not only because of bullying, but also because of what they see online or on their social media accounts. Some of them are even motivated to commit suicide because of what they read and see.
Brazil, girl, 15: The internet allows for broader discussions about existing violence, but it also increases the possibility of violence, such as cyberbullying.
Children around the world want more protection from bullying and more support for victims.