Global advocates and officials call for enhanced digital safety for children

Global and regional authorities are intensifying efforts to address the rising risks children face in digital environments. At the United Nations Human Rights Council, youth advocate Tarangini Sharma called for international safety-by-design standards to combat deepfakes, cyberstalking, and gender-based digital violence.

In Chile, Subsecretary of Childhood Marcelo Sánchez discussed the ‘Safe Digital Environments’ bill with students in Punta Arenas, noting that 15.1% of children have been victims of cyberbullying. Similarly, in India, a national consultation in Delhi led by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights advocated for a child-centric legal and policy response to emerging online harms.

Regional educational initiatives are also underway. In Argentina, the Consejo General de Educación (CGE) launched the ‘Hablemos De’ campaign in Paraná to sensitize adolescents about problematic digital consumption. Meanwhile, municipal programs in San Rafael are conducting workshops to educate families on the impact of excessive screen time on early childhood development. Experts emphasize that while children may be technologically proficient, they often lack the emotional tools and awareness to navigate privacy, security, and digital footprints safely.