NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations emphasizes the need for stronger protections for children and young people as digital platforms change how they access information. A new UN brief highlights dangers such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, artificial intelligence, and online systems driven by attention. It raises concerns about personal data, behavioral advertising, and how algorithms distribute content. The report stresses that younger users require more robust safeguards to ensure they can still access education, communicate, and participate publicly online.
The Department of Global Communications issued the brief before International Youth Day on Aug. 12. According to the report, over 82% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are internet users worldwide. Digital access offers opportunities for learning, civic engagement, and economic involvement. Yet, young people often encounter harmful material while still developing the skills to evaluate information critically. The brief notes that online risks can impact cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
The report categorizes these risks into three main groups. Technology-related threats include the misuse of artificial intelligence and other digital tools. Distribution risks involve algorithms and unequal access to trustworthy information. Content risks include disinformation, harassment, and hate speech. The UN states that these issues often interact, as digital systems influence what users see and how content spreads. When platforms combine automated recommendations, data collection, and personalized content, young users may face multiple risks simultaneously.
Focus Shifts to Platform Design
The brief also explores how business models that rely on user attention, personal data, and targeted advertising can harm children. Engagement-driven systems may expose young users to extreme content and features that encourage frequent use. Personalized marketing adds further risks for the youth. The report urges tech companies and AI developers to prioritize children’s rights and safety when designing products. It calls for increased accountability for systems that determine what young people see online.
Age restrictions are now part of the broader debate about social media and child safety. The UN argues that setting age limits alone cannot solve all online information risks. Digital spaces offer benefits such as education, social connections, and emotional support. Young people use these platforms to create content, organize campaigns, and participate in public discussions. The brief advocates for safeguards that protect children without denying them access to digital tools that support learning, communication, and engagement.
AI Safety Becomes a Key Part of Child Protection Efforts
Artificial intelligence introduces new concerns for online safety. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an AI Child Safety Pledge that covers systems accessible to children. This plan includes child-specific safety testing and stricter oversight before AI systems are deployed. It aims to take strong action against AI-generated sexual images involving children. The UN encourages developers to identify, report, and remove such material and to incorporate child safety protections into accessible AI systems.
The report states that governments, technology firms, advertisers, researchers, educators, and civil society all have roles in reducing digital harms. It also emphasizes involving children and young people in decisions about online spaces. The brief applies the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity to issues affecting younger users. Its main message is that child safety, information accuracy, and digital participation should progress together as online platforms and AI systems become more integral to daily life.