Volker Türk Calls for Stronger Regulation to Make Online Platforms Safer for Children

According to Türk, protecting children in the digital age requires addressing the root causes of online harms rather than focusing solely on limiting access to social media platforms.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called on governments and technology companies worldwide to take stronger and more comprehensive action to protect children online, warning that current approaches are often insufficient to address the growing risks young people face in digital environments.

Speaking ahead of the release of new guidance from the UN Human Rights Office, Türk emphasized that while digital technologies offer enormous opportunities for learning, communication, creativity, and social connection, they also expose children to significant threats to their safety, privacy, mental health, and overall wellbeing.

The High Commissioner stressed that many of the dangers children encounter online are not accidental consequences of technology but are often linked to deliberate design choices made by digital platforms. Features intended to maximize user engagement, such as endless scrolling, autoplay functions, personalized content recommendations, and constant notifications, can encourage excessive use and increase exposure to harmful content.

According to Türk, protecting children in the digital age requires addressing the root causes of online harms rather than focusing solely on limiting access to social media platforms. He argued that ensuring children's safety online must become an urgent global priority and that governments and technology companies share responsibility for creating safer digital spaces.

Human Rights-Based Approach to Online Safety

To support governments and policymakers, the UN Human Rights Office has issued a new set of guidelines designed to help strengthen children's online safety while safeguarding their fundamental rights.

The guidance emphasizes that any measures aimed at protecting children must be grounded in international human rights principles. This means balancing safety concerns with children's rights to information, participation, privacy, education, and freedom of expression.

Türk cautioned against viewing broad social media bans as a complete solution to the challenges posed by digital platforms. While age-based restrictions may reduce access to certain services, they do not automatically address the underlying features and business models that make platforms potentially harmful.

He argued that simply preventing children from accessing unsafe platforms does not eliminate the risks associated with those platforms. Instead, technology companies should be required to redesign services in ways that prioritize child safety from the outset.

The new guidance promotes a "safety by design" approach, encouraging companies to integrate protections directly into the architecture of digital platforms rather than relying solely on parental supervision or individual responsibility.

Concerns Over Addictive Platform Design

A central concern highlighted by the UN is the growing use of engagement-driven design features that can contribute to compulsive online behaviour among children and adolescents.

Experts have increasingly raised concerns about digital products that are engineered to keep users online for longer periods through features such as infinite scrolling feeds, automatic video playback, algorithm-driven recommendations, and frequent notifications.

These mechanisms are often designed to maximize user attention and advertising revenue, but critics argue they can negatively affect young people's mental health, sleep patterns, concentration, and social development.

Türk noted that such design practices can amplify exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, misinformation, and other online risks, particularly for younger users who may lack the experience or support needed to navigate digital environments safely.

The High Commissioner stressed that companies should be held accountable for the impact of these design choices and encouraged governments to establish regulatory frameworks that require stronger protections.

Rise of Social Media Restrictions Around the World

The debate over children's access to social media has intensified globally in recent years.

Australia attracted international attention when it adopted legislation in December 2025 restricting access to certain social media platforms for children under the age of 16. Similar age-based restrictions have since been introduced in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

In addition, more than a dozen other nations are reportedly considering new regulations that would limit or regulate children's use of social media platforms.

Supporters of such measures argue that restrictions can help shield young people from harmful content, online exploitation, cyberbullying, and addictive digital behaviours. However, critics caution that age-based bans may not fully address the structural factors contributing to online harms.

The UN Human Rights Office acknowledges the concerns driving these policy initiatives but emphasizes that restrictions should be carefully designed and targeted toward clearly identified risks.

Risks Associated with Age Verification

One area receiving particular attention in the new guidelines is age verification technology.

Many proposed social media restrictions rely on systems that require users to prove their age before accessing digital services. While such systems can help enforce age limits, they also raise important questions regarding privacy, data protection, and effectiveness.

Türk warned that poorly implemented age verification systems may create new risks rather than solving existing problems. In some cases, they may collect sensitive personal information, expose users to data breaches, or fail to accurately verify ages.

There are also concerns that extensive identity verification requirements could affect not only children but adults as well, potentially creating broader privacy challenges.

The UN guidance therefore calls for safeguards around age verification measures to ensure that privacy rights are protected while maintaining the effectiveness of regulatory efforts.

Recommendations for Governments and Technology Companies

The guidelines outline several measures that governments and companies should consider when developing policies aimed at protecting children online.

Among the recommendations is the requirement for technology companies to conduct child rights impact assessments before launching products or introducing significant design changes. These assessments would help identify potential risks to children and encourage the implementation of preventive measures.

The guidance also advocates stronger transparency requirements, allowing regulators, researchers, and the public to better understand how platforms operate and how their algorithms influence user experiences.

Enhanced oversight and accountability mechanisms are another key recommendation. Governments are encouraged to establish regulatory frameworks capable of monitoring compliance and holding companies responsible when children's rights are violated.

The UN also emphasizes the importance of involving children themselves in discussions about digital policy. Young people's perspectives can provide valuable insights into how platforms are used and what measures are most effective in promoting safety and wellbeing.

Access to Justice and Remedies

Another major component of the guidance is ensuring that children have access to effective remedies when they experience harm online.

This includes mechanisms for reporting abuse, removing harmful content, seeking support, and obtaining redress when rights are violated. The UN argues that accountability systems should be accessible, child-friendly, and responsive to the needs of young users.

Human rights advocates have increasingly called for stronger protections in areas such as online exploitation, cyberbullying, privacy violations, discriminatory algorithms, and harmful content exposure.

The guidance stresses that protecting children requires more than preventing harm; it also involves ensuring that those affected have meaningful avenues for support and justice.

Balancing Safety and Rights

While acknowledging the legitimate concerns driving calls for stricter regulation, Türk emphasized the need for balanced approaches that do not inadvertently create new harms.

He expressed concern that broad social media bans could be easily circumvented by tech-savvy users and might push children toward less regulated or more dangerous online spaces where oversight is weaker.

Instead, he argued for comprehensive strategies that address platform design, corporate accountability, data protection, transparency, and user empowerment simultaneously.

According to the High Commissioner, the ultimate goal should be creating a digital environment where children can safely benefit from technology while enjoying their full range of rights and freedoms.

Building a Safer Digital Future

As digital technologies continue to play an increasingly central role in children's lives, policymakers around the world face growing pressure to address online safety concerns. The UN Human Rights Office believes that effective regulation must go beyond simple access restrictions and tackle the systemic factors that contribute to harm.

The new guidance reflects a broader shift toward viewing child online safety as both a technological and human rights issue. By encouraging governments and companies to prioritize safety by design, strengthen accountability, and protect children's rights, the UN hopes to foster a digital ecosystem that supports healthy development, learning, and participation.

Türk concluded that responsibility for protecting children online should not rest solely with parents or young users themselves. Instead, governments, regulators, and technology companies must work together to ensure that digital platforms are designed and operated in ways that place children's safety, dignity, and rights at the centre.