Better Internet for Kids

The article examines how digital platforms, especially social media and algorithmic environments, shape children’s online experiences and expose them to evolving risks. It argues that traditional online‑safety approaches—focused on content moderation, parental controls, or age restrictions—are insufficient in the face of complex, systemic harms generated by platform design, datafication, and engagement‑driven algorithms. 

The authors propose a shift toward child‑centred, rights‑based governance, emphasising children’s agency, developmental needs, and the structural responsibilities of digital service providers. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from psychology, human‑computer interaction, and digital sociology, the paper highlights how children’s cognitive development, social vulnerability, and identity formation intersect with platform architectures. 

It concludes by calling for regulatory frameworks that integrate safety‑by‑design, transparency, and accountability, aligning digital environments with children’s rights under international law.