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We listen to children & youth

Understand the digital lives of children and youth

It’s important to really understand the digital lives of children and young people in their local environment. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the General Comment 25, about digital children’s rights,  we have developed a Digital Child Rights Talk. This tool helps you to have a good conversation with children and youth. It is the basic of a local Digital Child Rights participation plan and maybe a Digital Child Rights Expo with pictures and stories….

Digital Child Rights Talk

YOUR DIGITAL LIFE

The digital world offers many great opportunities, but it is important that it is a friendly environment for everyone. If you are active in the digital world, everyone should take good care of your rights. Especially if you are younger, you need extra attention and protection online. Did you know that all children and young people have rights in the digital world? So you too!

  • Can you tell something about yourself?
  • Your name? Your age?
  • Where do you live?
  • Do you have family?
  • Are you going to school? Which one?
  • …………………..

EVERBODY

You have the right that a digital environment is available to you. So everyone should be able to go online. Even if you can’t afford it, for example. We all have to make sure that in the digital world you are not discriminated against. It doesn’t matter who you are, rich or poor, wherever you come from or however you think. If you are discriminated, then you should be able to safely report your problem to someone. Even if you have a disability, an online environment should be provided for you. Everybody should be able to participate in the digital world! Everybody!

  • Are you active online? If not, why….
  • How are you active online? Mobile, computer, laptop…?
  • Where are you active? At home? Family? At school? Outside?
  • Is everybody active? Also poor people? Refugees? People with a handicap?
  • ……………….

CHANCES

Be happy! In the digital world you have the right to develop, learn, play and be creative. Thanks to the access to online environments you can make your life more beautiful and better. It is also important that, if you have a hard time or are in trouble, you can use all the online options. The digital world has to fit in well with what you can and what you understand. When you’re younger, sometimes you still have to learn how online works. Your parents, caretakers and your school teachers also need help. Make sure you don’t sit too long behind the screen. There are also plenty of fun things to do in the real outside world. This way you keep moving and feel nice and fit. With the right help from all organizations, the digital world can offer opportunities for everyone, including you!

  • Are you active online? If not, why….
  • How are you active online? Mobile, computer, laptop…?
  • Where are you active? At home? Family? At school? Outside?
  • ……………….

FAIR

You have the right to put your own interest in the digital world first. No one should take advantage of you if you are online. For example, if organizations want to do something for you online, they must first see what’s the best for you. So what you find important and easy. The information that can be found online must therefore be safe for you. Everyone must ensure that information is actually true. Organizations that make the digital world need to protect you from messages that are not good for you. Like in the real world, for example, no one should bully or sexually abuse you. No one should also give away personal information from sales without permission. Your privacy in the digital world is very important. So pay attention to what you share about yourself. In the digital world, everyone has to be honest with you. Easy!

  • Do you think the online world is clear to you?

  • Do you understand everything? Is it easy?

  • Is everything clear for your parents, caretakers and teachers?

  • ……………….

OPINION

Did you know that you have the right to really participate in the digital world and to express your opinion? All organizations must carefully consider your creative ideas and solutions. They should really do something with your opinion. It’s your digital world. You especially have a lot of experience how it works in the online environment. You grew up in the digital world. You must therefore also be able to give your opinion to organizations online. If they’re developing online environments for you, they need to get you involved as well. In this way, the digital world for children and young people becomes easier and more understandable thanks to your voice. If you give your opinion, it is important to know that you are entitled to your privacy. You should also be free to share all your creative thoughts.

  • Can you fully participate in the digital world?

  • Do organizations listen to your opinion?

  • …………….
  • ……………….

FREEDOM

Your freedom is important in the digital world. You have the right to express your opinion online with respect for others. So swearing online, insulting someone of bullying is not ok. You can also believe what you want. It is important that you can find clear information online in order to develop your opinion, feeling and belief. Parents, caretakers and teachers should help you well. For example, how should you safely share your opinion online? How do you ensure that your online opinion does not lead to hatred and violence? How are you protected against aggression online and what about your privacy? In the digital world, companies and political organizations should not manipulate and hold back from forming your opinion. They are also not allowed to use lean digital techniques for this. You also have the right to meet online. Organizations must ensure that there are secure digital spaces. Long live your digital freedom. Be free!

  • Do you feel free in the digital world?

  • Can you say or believe everything what you want online?

  • Has anyone ever been insulted or bullied online? Discrimination?

  • Have you ever experienced something unpleasant yourself?

  • ……………….

ACTIVE

Being active in the digital world offers you many opportunities to develop yourself. You have the right to go to school to be able to learn online as well. Online environments increase your opportunities to learn. All your life! Schools must provide safe digital learning environments without discrimination and without abuse of your privacy. The digital world also offers many opportunities to be active online in your spare time. You also have the right to be involved digitally with art, culture, relaxation and games. That is not only fun, but also teaches you how to solve problems and how to deal better with others. If you are active online, organizations are not allowed to let you do work. There are rules about what you can and can’t do online when you’re younger. Parents, carers and teachers must be helped to properly guide you in your digital activities. Don’t forget to unwind online and be active in the real world.

  • Are you active online at school? How? When?

  • How are you active online in your spare time? (Culture? Gaming?)

  • How are your parents and or caretakers involved when you are online?

  • ……………….

HEALTHY

Parents and guardians must also take good care of you in the digital world. If they do this, it is important that they themselves understand how the online environment works. If necessary, they should be given the opportunity to receive proper help. It is important that you are known online by official organizations. That way you get access to people who can take care of your health when you need it. Parents and guardians must treat you with respect and therefore not forbid and control everything. The older you get, the more you can take care of yourself in the digital world. When it comes to your health, you have the right to privacy. You also have the right to access clear and reliable information about your health. There are also rules that prevent you from being misinformed by organizations. It is about your interests and your health. If you are active online, you should take enough rest online and also keep in touch with others in the real world.

  • Do you think the online world is healthy for you?

  • Can you find clear information about you health?

  • Are you active enough in the real world?

  • ……………….

PRIVACY

When you are born, you also have the right to your own identity online: for example, who you are and what your name is. If you are in a difficult situation or on the run, official organizations should keep a close eye on this. If you are younger, your parents or caretakers must protect you online. Everyone should respect your online identity and privacy. If organizations online need your personal data or, for example, want to use your photos, you must first give permission. So they can’t force you. If you are very young, your parents or caretakers must agree. You also have the right to easily adjust or delete your data online. The information about your privacy in online environments must be easy to find for you and must also be explained in understandable language. The digital world must therefore handle your privacy well. It is very important that you are protected against digital aggression and abuse by others. Of course, you also have to be careful about what information you share about yourself with others.

  • What do you know about your privacy online?

  • Do you always give permission if others want information from you?

  • Are you careful when you share something about yourself?

  • Can you easily find information about your privacy online?

  • Have you ever experienced something negative with your privacy

  • ……………….

SAFE

The digital world is a great place to develop with lots of opportunities. Unfortunately, nasty and dangerous things also happen. You have the right to be properly protected online against, among other things, violence, assault, sexual abuse, bullying and humiliation. Your parents, caretakers, teachers and all organizations must pay sufficient attention to your online safety. This protection must be in line with what you can and understand at your age. If something has happened, you should also get help right away. You should not be ashamed if something bad has happened in the digital world. You have the right to discuss it in confidence with someone. Children and young people who are on the run or in a difficult situation are also entitled to good online protection. It is also forbidden for others to make money from you online. Your interest comes first and not the advertising and income of companies, for example. In the digital world, organizations must ensure that they know how old you are. They should also explain how you are protected online. Be safe!

  • Is the online world safe for you? (Violence? Assault? Sexual abuse?)

  • Do you know examples of nasty or dangerous incidents?

  • Have you ever experienced something unsafe yourself?
  • ……………….

RULES

If you have done something in the digital world that is not allowed by law, you should receive a punishment that is appropriate for your age. A juvenile judge looks at what happened like a fair jury. If something bad has happened in the digital world, you must first be treated as a victim. At that time you are entitled to a lawyer who will help you. If smart technology is used in the digital world to protect you, you should not just be unfairly accused. If you have a complaint about something in the digital world, you should be able to report it safely and free of charge. When it comes to protecting yourself, there must be safe places online where you can get advice. The information about your digital rights must be properly disclosed in language that you can understand.

  • Do you know your rights in the digital world?

  • Who judges when something has gone wrong online?

  • Do you know where to find information about your rights online?
  • ……………….

CHILD-FRIENDLY DIGITAL CITY

So you have a lot of rights in the digital world. In our country and therefore also in your municipality, all organizations are obliged to take good care of your digital rights. For example, there must be laws and regulations that must be observed. There must also be good plans with sufficient money to be able to work together on digital children’s rights. You should also be able to participate in this. It is important that good research is done, so that everyone knows how your digital rights are going. It is also very important that sufficient and understandable information about rights in the digital world is shared. Not only for children and young people, but also for people who have to and want to take care of you. Of course you also have to respect the digital rights yourself. The digital world should be a friendly place for everyone.

  • Is your city active with your digital rights? How?

  • Do you know other organizations who are active?

  • Do you have a good suggestion for a better online world for everybody?
  • ……………….

The digital lives of young people from Jordan, Barcelona and Malawi. Are you interested in a Digital Child Rights Talk, please let us know.

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