Amnesty International reported on Monday that the international failure to ensure children’s online safety from Big Tech is linked to a lack of youth perspectives in policymaking spaces. The organization classified existing solutions as performative and noted that increasing surveillance, data tracking and censorship pose a major threat to its security.
Children stand in front of “rrisks such as cyberbullying, grooming, online violence and problematic social media use,” while their data is “constantly collected, tracked and shared by a largely invisible network of state and private actors,” in most cases without free and informed consent. In one current letterThe United Nations attributed these problems to technology companies that have financial incentives to maximize revenue. These companies benefit from tailoring content to users’ emotional vulnerabilities and associated habits. Children are particularly vulnerable to these activities. Specifically, “algorithmic and AI systems can captivate young users by trapping them in harmful, never-ending content loops and exposing them to increasingly extreme content, including self-harm and suicide content, pornography, extremism and violence.” Additionally, data is tracked outside of social media in schools and universities that collect biometric attendance data and leverage AI-powered performance metrics.
Many countries have addressed concerns about social media by introducing bans on underage children. Turkey requires platforms to set up age verification systems and limit access to age-inappropriate content. Australia explained Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit are intended to be age-restricted platforms inaccessible to children under 16 years of age. Other countries that have enacted similar bans include Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Several countries are strongly considering such a ban, including the UK, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand and Norway, while others have introduced protections such as parental consent.
The tendency to increase these bans Privacy issues agrees with the accusation that they suffer from a lack of youth engagement. For example, age verification technologies often require a copy of a government-issued ID, facial scans, or third-party data. This may result in users routinely sharing biographical information and violating privacy.
Furthermore, the Amnesty article points out that it is contradictory to implement these bans while simultaneously promoting the increased use of AI in education. For example, the Coalition for Children’s Rights and Child Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence started in July 2026 without the participation of “a single child”. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child invites comments from a select group of children that do not amount to meaningful participation. Additionally, some governments have used children’s digital footprints to censor and suppress youth movements, such as internet shutdowns in Delhi and Cyber intimidation in Kenya.
In light of various lawsuits related to children’s privacy concerns, several organizations are actively working on the front lines to raise their voices. Ctrl+Alt+Reclaim published a manifesto for young people to “reclaim the digital world”. FlipGen strives to “Speak directly to younger children, parents, educators and policy makers and bring a relevant, positive and credible perspective.” The 5rights Foundation summarizes young people’s attitudes in quotes and essays, one of which characterizes the double challenge of protecting children’s privacy: “We want to be on the Internet to learn and share, but we are not ready for the adult world.”
