The problem
Digital products and services curate almost all aspects of children’s lives, but they are designed for profit, not children’s wellbeing. Today, one in two under 18s struggles with addiction to digital devices; harassment, eating disorders, suicide and online sexual abuse are soaring.
“The more time you use social media the more addicted you are and there is no control over it.”
Sarah, 13
“I believe that when young people collate all their ideas, something amazing can happen”
Alejandro, 12
The solution
Children’s rights and needs must be at the heart of digital design and development. Tech companies must be held accountable for ensuring their products and services cater for children and young people by design and default.
Our impact
Working for and with young people, 5Rights has successfully set the agenda, delivered the evidence, shaped the needed policy, legislation and technical tools, and worked with companies to demonstrate that redesigning services for children is possible, profitable and can benefit all.
“I imagine that the digital world in the 22nd century will be advanced, brilliant and safe for all children to use effectively and creatively”
Aisha, 16
The digital world was not designed for children. But it can be. Take action with us today for a better tomorrow.
Resources
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View allICO research illustrates risk to children’s data
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published new research detailing the misuse of children’s data and announced notices to three companies suspected to have failed to comply with the Age Appropriate Design Code.
UK Government must uphold children’s privacy in new data law
5Rights welcomes the draft proposals of the UK Data Bill that strengthen the accountability of tech firms on children’s safety but warns that many of the most problematic aspects to water down data protection remain.
Online Safety Act one year on: Ofcom must fix holes in regulation
Today marks one year since the Online Safety Act was passed into UK law. We recognise the scale of Ofcom’s task but do not believe the current proposals create the online world envisioned by the legislation.
5Rights calls for robust enforcement to protect children’s data
Three years into the Age Appropriate Design Code’s enforcement, the Information Commissioner’s Office has failed to meet the Code’s foundational aims. At 5Rights, we’ve raised what must change to stop the continual misuse of children’s data.