The digital transformation has had a far-reaching impact on the environments in which children live, learn and interact. While the digital space offers significant opportunities for diverse fields of study, such as education, social participation and development, it also remains a space where children are exposed to an ever-increasing range of risks, including sexual abuse, data misuse and algorithmic profiling. The study examines children’s rights on online platforms, focusing on the intersection between digital risks, regulatory frameworks and protection mechanisms. The study analyses the adequacy of existing legal and policy responses at both international and comparative levels, with particular attention to instruments such as the UN CRC, the GDPR and the new EU digital governance frameworks. How do digital platforms, artificial intelligence systems and algorithmic decision-making processes affect the realization of children’s rights, in particular the rights to privacy, protection and access to safe digital participation? By identifying legal gaps, in particular in relation to platform accountability, enforcement mechanisms and cross-border digital governance, it highlights that existing protection systems often lag behind technological developments, resulting in ineffective and inadequate protection of children’s rights and the guarantee of rights through the adoption of appropriate measures to protect rights. The protection of children, as a special category under the law, requires a more holistic and rights-based approach that integrates legal regulation, technological protections and digital literacy education. Current events increasingly emphasize the necessity to strengthen multi-level governance frameworks, increase the transparency of digital platforms, and ensure child-centered regulatory approaches that prioritize the best interests of the child in the digital age.
- Quote paper
- Besar Krasniqi (Author), Valeri Qatani (Author), 2026, Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment. Risks, Regulation, and Protection Mechanisms, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1718783
