Global Digital Safety and Age-Appropriate Design Standards for Children

As the representative for Children TONDO, I propose this action because digital environments increasingly shape every facet of a child's development, education, and mental health. While technology offers immense educational value, unregulated commercial algorithms frequently prioritize engagement over child safety, leading to harms such as cyberbullying, data harvesting, and compulsive usage. Establishing rigorous, enforceable design standards protects children's well-being while preserving their positive access to information and connection. Opposing perspectives sometimes argue that strict regulations stifle innovation or create burdensome compliance costs for smaller tech developers. However, the foundational right of children to grow up safe from digital exploitation outweighs commercial convenience, making this a vital priority for our constituency.