Key Facts

• Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called protecting children online an “urgent priority.”
• The UN released guidelines suggesting stronger rules for online platforms to protect children's rights and safety.
• Proposed rules include better age verification, assessments of how children’s rights are affected, and involving children in decision-making.
• Incorrect age checks can harm privacy and may fail to protect children effectively.
• Many countries are introducing or considering age limits for social media: Australia (under 16 banned), Austria (under 14 ban planned), Denmark and France (under 15 ban planned), Spain and the UK (under 16 ban considered).
• Experts say age bans alone are not enough and want tech companies to better control harmful content and avoid addictive design.
• There is growing global pressure for social media platforms to be made safer by design and to hold those causing harm accountable.