Children are neither passive victims who need to be shielded from the digital world nor fully independent adults ready to navigate it alone.
 

Authors: 

BD Mezmur, et al
 

Summary: 

Digital technology has transformed childhood, creating new opportunities for learning, connection and creativity while also exposing children to risks such as harmful content, harassment, exploitation and negative impacts on health and wellbeing. The article argues that responding effectively to these challenges requires moving beyond simplistic approaches that either restrict children’s access to technology entirely or leave them unprotected. Instead, the concept of children’s evolving capacities provides an important framework for balancing protection with growing autonomy. As children develop, their ability to understand, make decisions and act independently changes. The article highlights three interdependent dimensions of this framework: developmental investment, which ensures that children’s environments support the development of cognitive, social and emotional capacities; emancipatory recognition, which acknowledges and supports children’s growing agency and competence; and protective frameworks, which provide safeguards appropriate to different stages of development. The digital environment must therefore be designed and regulated with children’s rights and capacities in mind. Children should also be recognised as knowledgeable digital users whose experiences can inform technology design and policy decisions. The article cautions against blanket restrictions, arguing that the nature and impact of children’s online activities may be more important than the amount of time spent online. Policymakers, industry, caregivers and other stakeholders must act together to create digital environments that protect children from harm while supporting their development, autonomy and participation.


Link to Journal Article