NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations urges accelerated efforts to shield children and young people from the increasing online threats. An upcoming UN issue brief highlights key concerns such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, algorithmic bias, and artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes risks associated with data gathering, targeted behavioral advertising, and digital systems designed to capture attention. These warnings come as young individuals increasingly depend on online platforms for education, social interaction, information, and civic engagement.
Ahead of International Youth Day on Aug. 12, the Department of Global Communications released the report. It reveals that over 82% of people aged 15 to 24 are internet users worldwide. This connectivity underpins learning, civic involvement, and economic participation. Nonetheless, harmful online environments can negatively impact the cognitive, emotional, and social development of young users. The document also points out that children and adolescents are still developing critical skills needed to evaluate online information effectively.
The UN categorizes these dangers into three groups: technology, distribution mechanisms, and harmful content. Risks tied to technology involve misuse of digital tools and artificial intelligence. Distribution-related concerns include algorithms, digital inequality, and limited access to independent journalism. Content-related issues encompass disinformation, online harassment, and hate speech. The report notes these problems often overlap because technology influences how information is delivered and which material gains prominence across digital platforms.
Major tech platforms under scrutiny for child safety concerns
The brief emphasizes the role of leading technology companies in designing digital services and generating revenue. It states that attention-based systems can promote practices that exploit psychological vulnerabilities in younger audiences. Data collection and behavioral advertising further facilitate highly tailored marketing strategies. The report highlights risks such as exposure to extreme content and addictive features. It urges tech companies and AI developers to integrate children’s rights and safety considerations into their product and service designs.
Several governments worldwide are debating or have already implemented stricter online safety regulations for children. Measures such as age restrictions on social media platforms are among the most common. However, the UN brief stresses that these restrictions alone do not fully address the spectrum of digital risks. It also recognizes the importance of online spaces for education, social connections, and emotional support. Youth-led organizations increasingly utilize digital platforms for advocacy, organization, and civic participation. These groups often face harassment, surveillance, and disinformation in the process.
UN Advocates for AI Safety Standards as Part of a Larger Global Initiative
Artificial intelligence introduces additional complexities into the online safety dialogue. During the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced an AI Child Safety Pledge. He emphasized that companies should perform child-specific safety evaluations and seek independent oversight before deploying AI systems accessible to children. The pledge also advocates zero tolerance for AI-generated sexual images involving minors, including efforts to detect, report, and eliminate such content from digital platforms.
The United Nations stresses that safeguarding young people in digital environments requires concerted cooperation among governments, technology firms, advertisers, researchers, educators, and civil society. Its strategy also emphasizes meaningful participation of children and youth in decisions that impact digital spaces. The report endorses five UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, which focus on trust, healthier incentives, public empowerment, independent media, transparency, and research. The organization maintains that while stronger safeguards are necessary, young users should still have opportunities to learn, communicate, create content, and engage in civic life online.