Children and young people present their roadmap for a safer digital world
July 2025
Youth insights from global consultations used to create SafetyNet Manifesto
The profound role of technology on children and young people’s lives
Children and young people make up one of the largest and fastest growing user groups of the internet and modern technology worldwide.
Although significant disparities in access exist between and within countries, globally 78.5% of people aged 15-24 had access to the internet in 20241, while children under 18 years old are estimated to constitute one in three internet users worldwide2.
This means that billions of children are currently growing up as digital natives. They are also often among the earliest adopters of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR), with four in five online teenagers already using generative AI services in the UK by 20233.
Despite this, young people’s voices are often missing from conversations around policy and legislation, the development of new technologies and online safety mechanisms.
Exploring youth perspectives and priorities for the future of the digital world
To gain a better understanding of how children and young people experience the digital world and their hopes for a safer digital future, WeProtect Global Alliance co-ordinated a series of consultations with 109 young people aged 13-24 from 10 countries, in collaboration with global partner organisations. This project marks the latest phase of the participatory #MyVoice#MyFuture initiative, through which WeProtect Global Alliance has helped amplify child and youth voices, including at the 2024 Global Summit.
The global consultations illuminated some common themes of concern to young people across different geographical regions, as well as shared hopes for greater protection of their “digital rights” in the future. For example, common concerns included exposure to explicit, graphic or illicit content and concerns regarding harmful actors in online spaces. Many of those consulted highlighted a desire for better regulations and greater inclusion in decision making processes regarding online safety.
They shared their views on positive versus negative online experiences and the factors that contribute to ‘youth-friendly’ digital spaces. Further reflections and results of the consultations have been published in a youth insights report.
Children and young people present their SafetyNet Manifesto
Drawing on these valuable insights, an inspired group of 12 youth leaders from around the world co-created a suite of digital advocacy assets, with the creative agency Good Fowk.
The resulting SafetyNet Manifesto and digital assets provide a road map of eight ‘digital rights’ that children and young people need to feel safe online.
These rights include:
- The Right to Safety
- The Right to Informed Consent
- The Right to Digital Literacy
- The Right to Child and Youth Centred Experiences
- The Right to Influence
- The Right to Digital Wellbeing
- The Right to Control Their Digital Footprint
- The Right to a Better Future
The SafetyNet Manifesto, published on the Safe Futures Hub, calls on a range of stakeholders and decisions makers, including governments, industry and technology companies, to create a better ‘SafetyNet’ to protect children and young people from harm online. Crucially, it is also a call for greater inclusion in decision making, and for stakeholders to centre child and youth perspectives in the design of a safer digital world.
Ready to take action?
- Read the full SafetyNet Manifesto and youth insights report on the Safe Futures Hub.
- Learn more about child-centred approaches to tackling online sexual abuse and exploitation and access WeProtect Global Alliance’s Participation Guidance tool to support your own organisation’s work.
- Follow #SafetyNet on social media and help amplify youth voices by engaging with and sharing their digital advocacy assets.
About the global project partners
The SafetyNet Manifesto and creative suite was co-created by 12 young leaders around the world in collaboration with the digital creative agency, Good Fowk.
This creative work draws on the insights from global consultations with 109 young people across 10 countries, co-ordinated by WeProtect Global Alliance and conducted in partnership with The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Australian E-Safety Commissioner, Mtoto News, OneChild Canada, Red PaPaz, ACSAI, ChildSafe Net and the Global Youth-Led Movement on Ending Violence Against Children.
These insights and the resulting SafetyNet Manifesto have been launched by WeProtect Global Alliance as a part of Safe Futures Hub to share young people’s perspectives with a global audience.
I hope the internet doesn’t lose its spark. There are numerous things to explore and learn from. I want the specialness of the internet to have its freedom while being protected.
Youth consultation participant