NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations is calling for faster action to protect children and young people from growing online information risks. A new UN issue brief identifies disinformation, hate speech, harassment, algorithmic manipulation and artificial intelligence as major concerns. It also highlights risks linked to data collection, behavioral advertising and digital systems designed to hold attention. The warning comes as young people rely heavily on online spaces for education, communication, information and civic participation.
The Department of Global Communications published the brief ahead of International Youth Day on Aug. 12. It says more than 82% of people ages 15 to 24 use the internet worldwide. That access supports learning, civic participation and economic inclusion. However, harmful online environments can affect the cognitive, emotional and social development of younger users. The report also says children and adolescents are still developing skills needed to assess the information they encounter online.
The UN groups the threats into three categories covering technology, distribution systems and harmful content. Technology-related risks include misuse of digital tools and artificial intelligence. Access and distribution risks include algorithms, digital inequality and reduced access to independent journalism. Content risks include disinformation, online harassment and hate speech. The report says these problems can overlap as technology shapes how information reaches users and determines which material receives greater visibility across digital platforms.
Digital platforms face scrutiny over child safety
The brief focuses heavily on how major technology platforms design digital services and generate revenue. It says attention-driven systems can encourage practices that exploit psychological vulnerabilities among younger users. Data collection and behavioral advertising can also support highly personalized marketing. The report identifies exposure to extreme material and compulsive design features among the concerns. It calls for technology companies and AI developers to incorporate child rights and safety into the design of products and services.
Governments in several parts of the world have introduced or considered stronger online safety rules for children. Age-based restrictions on social media access are among the most widely discussed measures. The UN brief says such limits alone do not address the full range of digital risks. It also notes that online spaces can support education, social contact and emotional support. Youth-led groups increasingly use digital platforms for advocacy, organizing and public participation, while also facing harassment, surveillance and disinformation.
AI safeguards form part of broader UN push
Artificial intelligence has added another layer to the online safety debate. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an AI Child Safety Pledge during the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July. He said companies should conduct child-specific safety testing and provide independent oversight before deploying AI systems accessible to children. The proposed pledge also calls for zero tolerance toward AI-generated sexual images involving children, including measures to detect, report and remove such material from digital systems.
The United Nations says protecting young people requires coordinated action from governments, technology companies, advertisers, researchers, educators and civil society. Its approach also calls for meaningful participation by children and youth in decisions affecting digital environments. The brief applies five UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, covering trust, healthier incentives, public empowerment, independent media, transparency and research. The organization says young users should receive stronger safeguards while retaining opportunities to learn, communicate, create content and participate in public life online.