The United Nations has called on governments and technology companies to urgently strengthen protections for children against growing online risks, including harmful artificial intelligence, disinformation and online harassment.
In a new brief released ahead of International Youth Day, the UN said more than eight in 10 young people aged 15 to 24 are now online, with internet use among young people in low-income countries almost twice that of the general population.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned against exposing children to poorly regulated AI, saying no child should be used as a “guinea pig” for emerging technologies.
The report identified algorithmic bias, AI-generated harmful content, manipulative digital designs, “dark patterns”, loot boxes and targeted advertising as some of the threats facing children online.
It said some of these practices are driven by business models designed to monetise users’ attention, personal data and online spending.
The UN also raised concerns about the use of AI to facilitate child exploitation and the growing sophistication of advertising techniques targeting young users.
However, the organisation stressed that children and young people should not be seen only as victims of online harms, noting their roles as creators, journalists, advocates and participants in public debate.
The UN urged governments to involve young people in policymaking on information integrity, while calling on technology companies to introduce stronger child-safety safeguards and advertisers to avoid exploitative practices.
It also urged news organisations to better serve young audiences and promote reliable information.
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