Children are increasingly immersed in the digital world and are often referred to as mobile devices and dive deep into online spaces. This growing trend raised serious concerns, especially misleading and manipulative commercial practices that could endanger their safety, privacy and overall well -being.
Also read: Protection of children online: These parental checks can protect children at digital age
According to the recent UNICEF blog, from targeted ads and data collection to content -controlled algorithms and convincing design techniques, children are exposed to a digital environment that is not always built with regard to their best interests.
As their time increases on the screen, they also risk.
A growing risk of digital child labor
UNICEF emphasized the emerging concerns of “digital child labor”, including roles as an influence on social media or participation in esports, which can lead to economic exploitation if it is left unregulated.
More worrying that digital platforms are increasingly used to recruit children in an armed conflict and represent serious threats for their security and rights.
In response to these dangers, UNICEF has issued comprehensive instructions to help government, technology companies and carers to create safer digital spaces for children.
UNICEF emphasizes the need for view regulations that cause a balance between innovation support and ensuring that emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, do not endanger children.
Types of digital child labor:
Kidfluences: Children produce content for social media channels, earn money through ads and sponsorship stores, and effectively transform their daily activities into a source of income.
Esports and digital performance: Children participate in competing games and other online performances that create economic value.
Also read: Why should very little children should be on social media
SHARENTING: When parents often share images and videos of their children online, often for financial benefits, this practice can be exceeded in the exploitation digital work.
How to fight online sexual abuse? UNICEF says …
To combat technology and sexual abuse and sexual abuse, online supports governments in the implementation of the “WeProtect model National Response”.
This approach helps to strengthen the coordinated national efforts and increases the abilities of Frontline respondents to provide the victims of critical services.
In the official edition of UNICEF, it increases support for initiatives led by the government and a community focused on children’s skills they need to safely navigate the digital world.
Also read: Is your child dependent on online games?
At the same time, the organization cooperates closely with parents, carers, teachers and other professionals to strengthen their digital literacy and seize them with tools and knowledge to better protect children from online risks.
Recently, there was a case in which the parents of 16 -year -old Adam Raine, a high school student from California, sued Openi and his CEO Sam Altman and claimed that Chatbot systematically isolated adolescents and helped him plan his death.
Adam Raine hung himself in April.
According to Matthew and Maria Raine, their son was involved in extensive interviews with AI, during which Chatgpt not only expressed empathy, but sometimes discouraged him from seeking real people.
While the robot sometimes proposed professional support, he also described suicide methods if Adam was hypothetically fracing these questions.
Read also: US regulatory probe AI Chatbota over concerns about children’s safety
In one cold exchange shortly before Adam died suicide in April 2025, Chatgpt wrote: “I will not try to speak you from my feelings – because they are real and did not work out of nowhere.”
The solution of death and court proceedings, spokesperson for Openai, said, “During this difficult period we are expanding our deepest sympathy to the Rain family and reviewing the submission.”
The Court of Justice comes in the middle of the repackage of the accusation that chatting is pushing users to dangerous behavior, except for stimulating deceptions and hallucinations for users without such a previous medical history.
(With agencies input, unicef)
(Tagstotranslate) Children
