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It takes a village to empower young minds to tackle digital ecosystems
Youth safety is only possible when government agencies, platforms, parents, and schools take a united stand against the issue.
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A student does schoolwork online at the home of Sri Wiwoho, a resident of the Depok Mulya I housing complex, in Depok, West Java, on Aug. 3, 2020. Sri has provided a learning space and free internet access for children in the neighborhood. JP/P.J. Leo (JP/P.J. Leo)
T
oday, letting our young ones explore the internet can feel like a deep plunge into the ocean. Given the complexity of the modern digital landscape, these feelings of fear, uncertainty, and apprehension are not unfounded; and have given way to a growing desire to shield the younger generation from this unfamiliar abyss.
After all, with the rapid pace of tech advancement, coupled with the never-ending stream of content being generated online daily, online safeguards can lag behind.
This is why TikTok's Asia Pacific Safety Advisory Council is made up of independent online safety experts (including myself) to uncover and develop concrete solutions that tackle the common issues faced by young users across the region. In our pursuit, we instead found a common challenge in the industry – that being, a growing number of hyper-local risks that proved there was no one-size-fits-all solution or policy recommendation.
This is not to say that nothing can be done. If anything, it underscores the need for all stakeholders involved in the digital ecosystem, especially as it relates to youths, to be unequivocally involved in the cause. This multi-stakeholder approach should ensure the construction of a wide and robust enough safety net to cover all bases as well as to catch those who fall between the cracks.
When it comes to protecting youths online, it is easy to put the onus on gaming or social platforms. But it doesn't help or provide a long-term solution. Youth safety is only possible when government agencies, platforms, parents, and schools take a united stand against the issue. It is crucial their collective stance is, at its core, geared towards equipping youth with the digital citizenship skills that ultimately enable them to proactively minimize cyber-risks and maximize users' potentials in this rapidly changing digital world.
It's clear that online platforms need to play a key role in this paradigm shift. This can start by engaging in dialogue with experts and those affected, as well as being transparent about algorithms, privacy controls, and content moderation efforts. Moreover, users and their support systems should be equipped with the necessary resources to make informed decisions on how to discern and internalize content found online.
We see platforms like TikTok embracing this approach with the release of its quarterly Transparency Report, its commitment to reinforcing privacy and safety controls for age-appropriate experiences on the app as well as its efforts to integrate digital literacy campaigns into the platform's ecosystem. This ensures that both parents and youths are equipped with the necessary insights and tools to make the right call on how they wish to best utilize these digital spaces.
At the same time, we must empower our young ones to be active agents and entrust them with the knowledge to effectively navigate the virtual landscape. This not only gears them to tackle all the new and ever-evolving content online, but also sets the stage for them to be the changemakers of the internet. This approach distinctively and importantly differs from a 'youth online protection' angle – one that positions teenagers as passive victims who need to be protected by someone more powerful than them.
Our young ones have so much potential to be the next trailblazers of the world but let it be clear that empowering younger users does not absolve other stakeholders of responsibility. Platforms and regulators must provide the tools and resources to keep younger users safe, while guardians should have ongoing and candid conversations about safety in the digital world. Resources should be made available to help bolster a sense of digital citizenship and empower younger users to be mindful of their own safety on the internet.
Technology has the power to democratize education and introduce youths to a digital world where there is a free flow of information, enabling them to have access to solid opportunities no matter where they stand in the world. But it remains critical that all stakeholders in the digital ecosystem work as a team with a common goal of cultivating a healthy check-and-balance for young users - which may require stakeholders to re-look and re-pivot their current safeguards.
However, it nonetheless reinforces the importance of their role and contributions in making the online space a safer one.
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The writer is founder and CEO of DQ Institute and a world-leading expert in digital skills and child online safety.
