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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TikTok held accountable with £12.7m fine for misusing children’s data
After three years, TikTok has agreed to pay the £12.7 million fine in the UK for unlawfully processing children’s data. This case shows why the Age Appropriate Design Code must be given statutory force.
New Australian law to mandate safety-by-design
Australia is proposing new safety-by-design duties for digital services, putting the onus on companies to assess and mitigate risks to children.
Childhood Redrawn: Putting responsibility for tech safety back where it belongs
Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director of 5Rights Foundation, introduces Childhood Redrawn, a campaign building support for tech to be safe for children by design and by default.
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.
