NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations urges accelerated efforts to shield children and youth from the increasing threats posed by online information. An upcoming UN issue brief highlights key concerns such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, algorithmic bias, and artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes risks tied to data harvesting, targeted behavioral advertising, and attention-grabbing digital systems. The alert underscores the importance as young people depend heavily on the internet for education, communication, information, and civic engagement.
Ahead of International Youth Day on Aug. 12, the Department of Global Communications released this brief. It reveals that over 82% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are internet users globally. Such access facilitates learning, civic involvement, and economic participation. Nonetheless, toxic online environments can hinder the cognitive, emotional, and social development of minors. The report also notes that children and teenagers are still acquiring the skills necessary to critically evaluate online information.
UN categorizes these dangers into three groups: technological risks, distribution-related issues, and harmful content. Technology-related hazards involve the misuse of digital tools and AI. Distribution risks include algorithmic biases, digital inequality, and limited access to independent journalism. Harmful content encompasses disinformation, online harassment, and hate speech. These challenges often intersect, as technology influences how content reaches users and affects its prominence on digital platforms.
Scrutiny Mounts on Digital Platforms Concerning Child Safety
The brief emphasizes how leading tech companies design digital services and generate revenue, often through attention-focused systems that may exploit young users’ psychological vulnerabilities. Data collection and behavioral advertising contribute to highly tailored marketing strategies. Concerns include exposure to extreme content and engagement features that foster compulsive use. It urges tech firms and AI developers to embed child rights and safety principles into their product development processes.
Numerous governments are considering or implementing stricter online safety policies for children. Restrictions based on age for social media access are among the most common proposals. However, the UN brief states that such measures alone cannot fully mitigate digital risks. It highlights that online environments also provide opportunities for education, social connection, and emotional support. Youth-led organizations increasingly harness digital platforms for advocacy, organizing, and civic participation, while still facing threats like harassment, surveillance, and disinformation.
UN Advocates for AI Safety Measures as Part of a Broader Initiative
Artificial intelligence introduces additional complexities to online safety discussions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an AI Child Safety Pledge during the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July. He emphasized that companies should implement child-specific safety testing and seek independent oversight before deploying AI accessible to children. The pledge also advocates for zero tolerance of AI-generated sexual images involving children, including mechanisms to detect, report, and eliminate such content from digital platforms.
The UN stresses that safeguarding young people requires concerted efforts from governments, technology firms, advertisers, researchers, educators, and civil society. It advocates for meaningful youth participation in decisions influencing digital spaces. The brief incorporates five UN Global Principles for Information Integrity—trust, positive incentives, public empowerment, independent media, transparency, and research. The organization maintains that children and young users should benefit from stronger protections without compromising their ability to learn, communicate, create content, and engage in public life online.