IGF 2025 Day 0 Event #53 Empowering Kids From First Click to Digital Resilience

The upcoming workshop will bring together experts from academia, research, education, the technical community, law, and the business sector. Speakers will share their insights, recommendations, and best practices on safely introducing children to technology and fostering positive digital experiences throughout adolescence. The event will also include perspectives from youth representatives, ensuring that young people's voices and concerns are part of the conversation. Digital technologies have transformed communication and socialization for children worldwide. The digital environment offers vast opportunities for learning and creativity, but numerous studies indicate that children are starting their digital journeys at younger ages. With the development of new technologies, children are spending more time in front of screens, which may impact their psychomotor development. This growing phenomenon is raising concerns among psychologists, educators, and health experts. Many young children, often referred to as "tablet kids," spend significant time on screens, reducing engagement in traditional play, which is crucial for cognitive and social skills (Melissa & Doug, Gallup, 2017). A 2020 study by the Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education in Poland found that 54% of children aged 0-6 use mobile devices, with the average first-use age being just over two years. The EU Kids Online (2020) research highlights a substantial rise in both smartphone usage among children and their internet activity compared to a decade earlier. Ofcom (2023) research reveals that 25% of children aged 5-7 have TikTok profiles, and engagement increases with age. A 2024 Polish study, “Children's Internet: report on monitoring the presence of children and young people online”, found that more than half of children aged 7-12 use at least one social networking platform designed for users 13 and older, with TikTok being the most popular. Despite the increasing presence of children online, digital platforms were not originally designed for them (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, General Comment 25, 2021). This oversight exposes young users to various risks such as excessive use due to addictive algorithms, disinformation, and harmful content (Custodians of the Internet, Yale University Press, 2018). The EU Kids Online (2020) report states that 7-45% of children have encountered distressing online content, including hate messages, violent imagery, and material promoting harmful behaviors. Hate speech is the most common form of harmful content encountered by youth aged 12-16, affecting 17% of them monthly. The issue of online grooming is also alarming. The Internet Watch Foundation (2024) reported a 66% rise in child sexual exploitation cases involving children under ten. In addition to inadequate safety measures by social media companies and addictive mechanisms of such platforms and applications, factors such as poor digital hygiene in families, limited parental awareness, insufficient school policies on smartphones use, slow implementation of legal regulations, and inadequate media education contribute to children's online vulnerability. Many parents and educators struggle to keep pace with evolving online risks, while weak age verification mechanisms fail to prevent underage access to social media. As artificial intelligence advances, challenges such as disinformation, online tracking, and exposure to harmful content will likely intensify, underscoring the need for proactive digital education. Digital skills are essential for children and young people to engage safely and effectively with the internet. These skills play a critical role in their social participation, education, employment, and overall well-being (ITU, Measuring the Information Society, 2018). Research from Western Sydney University (2022) emphasizes that children feel safest online when they possess strong social competencies, including respectful communication and boundary-setting. Building digital resilience is essential to achieving Objective 1 of the Global Digital Compact: “Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.” This includes fostering digital literacy and capacities that enable individuals to navigate the digital space securely and meaningfully. Achieving this goal requires cross-sectoral collaboration at both national and international levels, increased parental awareness, a deeper understanding of young people's needs, effective school-based education, ethical business practices, effective implementation of legal regulations and proactive measures from social media platforms to create safer online environments for children and adolescents. The workshop will explore these critical topics, fostering discussions on responsible digital engagement, best practices in child online safety, and strategies for empowering young people in the digital age. Through cross-sector collaboration, we can ensure that children and adolescents navigate technology in a way that maximizes benefits while minimizing risks. References: Measuring the Information Society Report, ITU, 2018: https://www.itu.int/pub/D-IND-ICTOI-2018 General comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations… The Global Digital Compact: https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=VroUkwMJa… EU Kids Online (2020): https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/researc… “Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes 2023”, Ofcom (2023): https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-da… “Reimagining online safety education through the eyes of young people” Report, Western Sydney University (2022): https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1976503/Re…

To facilitate interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees, we will employ a combination of technological solutions and session design strategies. We will utilize video conferencing platforms that allow seamless communication and collaboration between both groups. This includes features such as live streaming of onsite presentations and real-time Q&A sessions. To ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participants, we will implement a hybrid session design approach. This will involve providing equal opportunities for engagement and participation to both groups. Interactive elements like polls, chat functions will be integrated to encourage active involvement from all attendees. Overall, our approach will focus on creating a cohesive and immersive experience for both onsite and online participants, allowing for meaningful interaction and an optimal session experience for all.