5Rights celebrates Safer Internet Day 2025
On 11 February 2025, 5Rights celebrates Safer Internet Day, a day dedicated to promoting a safer and more empowering digital world for children. This day is a powerful reminder of our mission to embed children’s rights into the very fabric of the digital world.
Over the past year, we have made significant progress towards this goal, guided by the insights and advocacy of our Youth Ambassadors – more than 200 children and young people from around the world. Listening to children themselves about how they want to be better protected and respected online remains at the heart of everything we do.
This Safer Internet Day, we participated in Prepare, Protect, Thrive: Navigating Algorithms and Influencers in Dublin, where key stakeholders from the Irish Online Safety Commissioner and the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency, reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing children and young people online. Our EU Advocacy and Policy Officer, Manon Baert, highlighted how the design of these services – focused on maximizing engagement – can expose children to bullying, unhealthy social pressures, and harmful content. Manon emphasised the urgent need for safety-by-design solutions that address these risks from the outset and ensure platforms are built with children’s rights in mind.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, our Youth Ambassador, Nidhi, joined a panel discussion organised by ChildFund Philippines. Joined by fellow youth advocates, Nidhi spoke about the power of data in today’s digital world and how it shapes the lives of young people. She called for stronger data protection laws, AI and algorithm transparency, and age-appropriate design standards that put children’s well-being ahead of profit.
“In today’s digital world, data is power. Children’s data is one of the most valuable commodities for tech companies. Algorithms then decide what content to push, what ads to show, and how to keep children engaged for as long as possible. This isn’t just about advertising—it’s about shaping how young people think, behave, and interact with the world. And most children don’t even realize this is happening. That’s why protecting children’s data isn’t just about privacy—it’s about protecting their autonomy, development, and ability to make informed choices online.”
Nidhi, Youth Ambassador
The event was a testament to the power of young voices in shaping a digital future that prioritises their safety, privacy, and well-being.
As technology advances, so do the threats facing children. AI-powered harms, manipulative chatbots, and algorithm-driven content manipulation are making the digital world increasingly harmful for young users. These emerging challenges, rooted in the unchecked use of children’s data and engagement-maximising designs, demand urgent action, stronger protections, and a commitment to putting children’s well-being ahead of profit.
“This past year, we have made great strides in the global effort to create a safer online world for children, but as technology evolves, so do the threats that target young people in increasingly sophisticated ways. Children know what kind of digital world they want to live in. It’s time we listen, act, and ensure that their voices are at the heart of creating the safer, fairer internet they deserve.”
Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director
We cannot see Safer Internet Day just as a celebration – it’s a call to action. Ensuring that children’s rights are respected by design and by default requires collaboration from governments, tech companies, engineers, and civil society. Together, we can create a digital environment where children are not only protected but also empowered to thrive.