Published on: 2026-05-29
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on states and technology companies to take more decisive measures to protect children on online platforms. He emphasized the necessity of regulating the digital environment and making it more transparent.
“The digital world opens up access to knowledge, communication, and creativity for children, but at the same time exposes them to real threats. Risks to their safety, privacy, and psychological well-being are not some inevitability. This is a direct result of conscious design decisions and business practices,” said Türke.
Platforms deliberately introduce functions that cause addiction: endless screen scrolling, autoplay video, and intrusive notifications, added the expert.
Tyurk notes that protecting children on the internet must be done competently. So that regulation in this area is based on fundamental human rights,Management, headed by Tyoerk, has prepared a summary of practical recommendations.
“Total bans on social networks are not a panacea; the problem has many facets. You cannot simply restrict access to unsafe platforms and assume the mission is accomplished. Governments and businesses need far more large-scale actions. It is necessary to ensure that platforms are safe from the outset, at the design level,” the European Commissioner said.
The Department, in particular, states the necessity to protect children’s personal data and to do so in a way that their rights and needs are taken into primary consideration.
Attempts to completely ban children from using social networks are now gaining momentum worldwide. The example of Australia, which in December 2025 introduced restrictions for teenagers under 16 years old, served as a catalyst. Subsequently, age filters have been implemented in Indonesia and Malaysia, and more than a dozen other countries are currently considering similar measures.
Türk emphasizes that, as practice shows, any prohibitions can be circumvented. There is a danger that strict taboos simply push children onto even more dangerous and absolutely uncontrolled shadow sites.
In its recommendations, the UN Human Rights Office emphasizes: any age restrictions must be precise and targeted against specific threats. Experts propose a set of additional measures that will help protect children without violating their rights.
Among the proposed measures: the creation of strict frameworks for age verification systems, mandatory assessment of the platform’s impact on children’s rights, as well as involving the teenagers themselves in the discussion of laws. All this should be supported by transparency of the work of IT giants, enhanced control over their activities, and mechanisms for legal protection of children.
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