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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Latest
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US courts and lawmakers are telling tech companies that safety by design is not optional
From TikTok’s court loss to Meta’s $17 billion settlement, US courts and states are forcing tech companies to make child safety a design requirement, not an afterthought.
New EU KIDS Act can “put paid to the tech exploitation of children” but must apply equally to all platforms
The European Commission has unveiled its proposed EU KIDS Act, a landmark new framework aimed at making digital services safer for children and reducing their exposure to harmful and addictive design.
SOTEU 2026: Platforms will have to prove they are safe for kids
The EU Commission has taken up 5Rights’ long-standing demand to reverse the burden of proof – platforms will soon have to prove their services are safe for kids, not wait for harm to happen first.
EU Kids Online survey shows children need safer digital spaces by design
New EU Kids Online research shows children are facing growing online risks, reinforcing the need for digital services to be safe by design and by default.
