NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations is emphasizing the urgent need for stronger protections for children and young people amid the transformation of information dissemination on digital platforms. A recent UN issue brief emphasizes the dangers posed by disinformation, hate speech, harassment, artificial intelligence, and online systems driven by attention metrics. It also raises concerns related to personal data privacy, behavioral advertising, and the influence of algorithmic content distribution. The report advocates for increased protections for younger users to ensure they can access education, communicate, and participate in public life safely online.
Ahead of International Youth Day on Aug. 12, the Department of Global Communications issued the brief. According to the report, over 82% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are internet users worldwide. While digital access can facilitate learning, civic engagement, and economic involvement, it also exposes young users to potentially harmful content as they develop critical information analysis skills. The brief notes that online risks can impact cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
The report categorizes these risks into three key areas. Technology-related threats involve the misuse of artificial intelligence and other digital tools. Distribution risks stem from algorithms and disparities in access to trustworthy information. Content risks include disinformation, harassment, and hate speech. The UN emphasizes that these issues can intertwine because digital systems influence the content users see and how widely it spreads. When platforms combine automated recommendations, data collection, and personalized content, young audiences may face multiple risks simultaneously.
Focus Shifts Toward Platform Design and Responsibility
The brief also explores how business models relying on user engagement, personal data, and targeted advertising heighten online risks for children. Engagement-centric systems may expose young users to extreme material and features that promote repeated activity. Personalized marketing presents an additional threat, increasing the potential for harm. The report urges technology firms and AI developers to prioritize children’s rights and safety in product development, calling for greater accountability in systems that influence what young people encounter online.
While age restrictions are part of the broader discussion on social media and child protection, the UN points out that they are insufficient by themselves to address all online information risks. Digital spaces also serve as platforms for education, social bonding, and emotional well-being. Young users leverage them to create content, organize campaigns, and participate in societal debates. The brief stresses that protective measures should shield children without depriving them of valuable digital access that supports learning, communication, and civic involvement.
Incorporating AI Safety into Child Welfare Initiatives
The rise of artificial intelligence introduces new concerns for online safety. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an AI Child Safety Pledge that includes systems accessible to children. This approach features child-specific safety testing and stricter oversight prior to deployment. It also aims to combat AI-generated sexual images involving children effectively. The UN’s broader initiative urges developers to identify, report, and eliminate such content, while embedding safety protections into accessible AI systems designed for children.
The report underscores that governments, technology providers, advertisers, researchers, educators, and civil society all have a role in reducing digital harms. It calls for children and youth to be actively involved in decisions shaping the online environment. Applying the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, the brief emphasizes that child safety, truthful information, and digital participation should progress together as online platforms and AI systems become increasingly central to everyday life.