Children have rights that have been enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1989. These include the right to health and the right to play and leisure. But a lot has changed since then. The rapid development of digital media and technologies has significantly changed the way children grow up. Digital media play an important role from an early age. We explain the key aspects of children’s rights in the digital world.
The digital world encompasses a variety of digital technologies, from the Internet and mobile devices to online games and social media. All children’s rights apply in all of these areas. Some rights play a particularly important role:
Every child has the right to equal access to the digital world. However, this does not mean that children should use media without limits. Depending on your child’s age and stage of development, you as parents can work with your child to agree on rules regarding how long and which types of media they are allowed to use.
Just like adults, children have the right to freely express their opinions and stay informed. The Internet offers children the opportunity to access age-appropriate information in a variety of ways and to express and share their own opinions. Make sure your child only visits websites that are safe and appropriate for children.
Every child has the right to privacy. As a parent, you should therefore handle your child’s personal rights on the Internet in a mindful and considerate manner. Avoid disclosing personal information such as your child’s name or address. Ask your child for permission before posting photos of them online or sending them via messaging apps. Respecting your child’s privacy also means not checking their smartphone out of curiosity. If you have concerns, talk to your child first and explain why you’d like to look at the device together.
Digital media offer children a wide range of opportunities to express themselves creatively, learn, and connect with peers. Encourage your child to use age-appropriate platforms such as the photo community Knipsclub, as well as age-appropriate games and other creative activities where children can create their own photos, videos, or audio stories. Be sure to maintain a good balance with other activities. Encouraging creative play in the digital world allows your child to develop their imagination.
Every child has the right to equal access to education. In the context of our digitalized world, support from family, daycare, and school is essential so that children can learn to navigate the opportunities and risks of the media world safely and responsibly. Today, the right to access media is also always a right to access digital educational resources, such as interactive learning websites.
Children’s rights focus on the best interests of the child. Children must be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, and mistreatment (such as cyberbullying, cybergrooming, and hate speech) in all areas of life, including the digital world. Special programs designed to protect minors can help minimize these risks. Talk to your child about safety risks and problematic content online, and show them how to block, report, and get help.
Children have the right to connect with peers online, share common interests, and form digital communities. Parents should encourage their children to use online platforms such as the helpando support site or participation platforms that are age-appropriate, designed with safety in mind, and promote positive interactions. This allows children to nurture digital friendships, develop social skills, and learn to assess the opportunities and risks of digital communities.
Talk to your child about their rights. The family plays an important role in children’s rights in the digital world. As parents, it’s your responsibility to help your child grow up well. This includes teaching them basic media literacy skills and values. Therefore, stay informed about your child’s media use, keep the lines of communication open, and make (joint) decisions that are appropriate for your child’s age and stage of development. A cooperative relationship based on respect and trust is essential to ensure that your child turns to you for help if problems arise. Children need to know their rights so they can assert them in everyday life and stand up for them. Incidentally, your role as parents in your child’s development and well-being is also explicitly emphasized in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Further information on children’s rights is available, among other places, in a child-friendly format on Kindersache and from the German Children’s Fund.
