Empowering Youth and Survivors: Key Steps Toward Protecting Children from Online Exploitation

Screen time! Every parent’s dilemma, right? In today's world, screens are everywhere, and keeping children away from them is not only impossible, but it’s also unrealistic. Whether for school, fun or socializing, the internet is now a big part of their lives. But with this rise in screen time come new challenges.

Are you concerned about what your child is doing or who your child may be connecting with online? If so, you’re not alone. As parents ourselves, we think about this often. And many parents, caregivers, educators and professionals share these same worries. Because while the internet opens incredible and important opportunities for learning and connection, it also carries with it tremendous risks. And with great opportunities come great responsibilities!

With this goal in mind, we co-sponsored and participated in the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) ICT Forum on Child Online Protection in Bali September 25-27. Children and youth themselves joined us to speak directly to policymakers and practitioners to tackle the pressing issue of online safety. The active participation of these young people was a key highlight as they emphasized their desire for a safer online world for everyone. Their voices were clear: They want a perpetrator-free online environment, laws and policies they can understand, better access to services for children with disabilities and those in remote areas, and stronger digital literacy for children, parents and educators alike.

We at ChildFund believe that children and young people know what they need. That is why their voices need to be heard. Through UNICEF’s U-Report community for young people as well as focus groups, we connected with over 5,000 young people, including from vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities and those not currently attending school, and ensured that their voices were actively integrated into discussions. When children and young people are heard, we get solutions that are practical, inclusive and impactful. Their perspective is crucial because they live the digital reality that we’re trying to make safer. When young people identify their concern about, for example, the barriers that children with disabilities face in accessing and understanding online protection information and services, they point toward a specific path forward.

Children and young people are on one side of the equation; on the other side are the tech companies, online platforms and policymakers.

On online platforms, one of the challenges that children and caregivers face is that of age verification and age assurance. How does one balance the need for children’s privacy with safety in online environments? Hanneke Oudkerk participated in a panel discussion on child rights-based approaches to age verification and assurance in ASEAN.

A big challenge in keeping children safe is finding ways to protect them without using too strict or invasive methods, like ID checks, which can restrict their freedom to express themselves. Instead, we should aim for solutions that improve online safety while allowing children to access age-appropriate content and enjoy the benefits of being online.

Let’s imagine for a moment that we have all the safety measures in place, yet a child or a young person faces and survives online abuse. What should we do then? Jessica Leslie’s session, Taking a Survivor-Centered Approach to Online Child Protection in ASEAN, was curated with the goal of keeping survivors’ voices at the center of any strategy and/or policy. Jess highlighted how taking a trauma-informed approach and recognizing the critical voice and expertise that survivors bring to the table are key to making real change.

The forum made one thing clear: Children need a safer online space, and achieving this requires collaboration across governments, industries and borders. We have to create digital spaces that are safe by design, with age-appropriate safeguards and content restrictions built in. It’s not just about keeping adults away from children but also ensuring that children are protected from peer-to-peer exploitation.

As we move forward, we must continue working with young people and survivors in these discussions. Their insights are the key to creating meaningful, lasting solutions for online safety. Together we can build a digital world, free from exploitation, where children learn, grow and thrive.