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The United Nations on Monday called for urgent action to protect children from online risks, noting that over 80 percent of people aged 15 to 24 worldwide now use the internet.

In a brief published ahead of International Youth Day, the U.N. warned that this highly connected generation often bears the brunt of information safety hazards, including misinformation, harassment, algorithmic bias, and the malicious use of artificial intelligence. It urged member states, technology companies, advertisers, media outlets, and researchers to prioritize protection and participation to mitigate the harms caused by these threats.

The brief explains that the risks young people face online stem from business models designed to monetize attention and personal data, coupled with interface design choices meant to maximize engagement and spending.

From algorithms designed to keep young users continuously engaged to "dark patterns," loot boxes, and other tactics that encourage compulsive behavior, the report warns that children whose habits, identities, and relationships are still forming are uniquely vulnerable.

The U.N. added that artificial intelligence is advancing faster than efforts to regulate its rapid spread, heightening risks ranging from AI-generated content to AI-facilitated exploitation.

The brief also highlights increasingly covert advertising techniques used to target children and boost online spending, noting that these combined practices normalize widespread commercial surveillance and manipulative design during a developmental stage when young people are most susceptible to influence.

However, the U.N. stressed that youth are far more than potential victims. They are content creators, advocates, and community leaders actively reshaping civic life, with young journalists and digital creators making significant contributions to public debate.

//Petra// AF