Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
It’s important to focus on empowering children to understand their rights in digital spaces. That includes increasing their understanding of what is harmful behaviour so they can spot things which are concerning, so they know what to do, and so they know where to get support.
“Children have been calling for a better balance between protection from harm and nurturing the opportunities offered by having access to the online world. Such access can support their rights to education, to culture, to access information, and to recreation. For many children, their online and offline worlds are inseparable. Children want to have a say in actions and decisions that affect them in the digital environment, and they want to be involved in designing safer spaces.