Last week, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) hosted a symposium to discuss child safety online. The event brought together academics, researchers, digital rights advocates, and government representatives to explore how research can inform policy decisions in this area.
The symposium was held under Chatham House Rule and featured roundtable discussions on key topics related to online safety for minors. Participants focused on identifying evidence-based policies and technical interventions that could guide young people toward age-appropriate online experiences. Themes discussed included how youth access platforms, the content they are exposed to, their communication methods online, and platform design patterns influencing behavior.
A significant aim of the symposium was bridging the gap between research findings and actionable policy. Despite decades of research on child safety, translating these insights into effective policies remains challenging. Participants emphasized the need for researchers to engage more actively with policymakers to ensure evidence-based insights inform decisions.
One researcher highlighted the importance of policy experts acknowledging when academic research aids advocacy efforts: “[Policy experts] can amplify when they use our [academic] research. [Researchers] don’t know when their research was helpful for advocacy.”
The call for collaborative approaches in child safety advocacy was another central theme. Participants stressed collective action among parents, educators, platform designers, and policymakers as essential for moving away from fear-based approaches toward balanced policies.
Throughout the event, attendees discussed shifting away from fear-driven approaches to child safety online. While real risks like cyberbullying exist, focusing solely on these threats limits opportunities to create positive digital experiences for children.
As discussions concluded, participants recommended conducting "pre-mortems" on proposed safety measures to anticipate challenges before implementation. They also highlighted barriers such as limited access to comprehensive data needed by researchers studying online safety measures' effectiveness at scale.
In conclusion, the Child Safety Online Symposium underscored the need for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in creating an evidence-based digital environment safe for youth. Challenges remain regarding data access and defining appropriate online experiences; however, this event marked progress towards future efforts in this space.
Michal Luria from CDT presented her research at the 2024 Child Safety Online Symposium.
