Children are growing up in a digital world that is changing faster than ever. From social media and online games to artificial intelligence, the opportunities are enormous, but so are the risks. So how can we make sure children are not only protected online, but also have a say in shaping the digital world they are growing up in?
That is the question at the heart of DigiGuard, a new European project that ICDI is proud to be part of.
DigiGuard brings partners together to strengthen children’s digital safety and rights, while promoting inclusive digital literacy and meaningful participation. The project will work with children and young people, parents and caregivers, teachers, and other professionals to better understand online risks and build stronger systems of protection.
But there is an important principle behind all of this: children should not just be talked about. They should be part of the conversation.
Putting participation into practice
Last Friday, the DigiGuard partnership came together for a Meaningful Youth Participation workshop. It was an opportunity to step back and ask an important question: Are we really creating opportunities for children to influence the work we do, or are we simply asking for their opinions?
Using the Lundy Model of Participation, partners explored what meaningful participation looks like in practice. This included creating safe and inclusive spaces for children to participate, making sure they can express their views in ways that work for them, ensuring their views reach the right decision makers, and, most importantly, making sure those views can influence decisions.
The discussion also highlighted something that is sometimes overlooked: participation comes with responsibility. When children share their views, they deserve to know what happened next. Partners explored how to provide feedback that is clear, accessible, timely, and followed up throughout the project, including explaining why certain suggestions were or were not taken forward.
The workshop then moved from principles to practice, with partners considering how meaningful youth participation can be built into DigiGuard’s different activities and how to make sure children who are often under-represented are included.
From theory to action
DigiGuard will create opportunities for children and young people to share their experiences, develop digital skills, contribute to project activities, and have their voices reach those making decisions about their digital lives.
For ICDI, this is an essential part of building safer digital environments. Children are experts in their own experiences. By listening to them, creating space for their ideas, and showing them how their contributions make a difference, we can move towards digital safety approaches that are not only designed for children, but developed with them.
The DigiGuard journey has only just begun. We are looking forward to learning, listening, and working alongside children and young people to help build a safer and more inclusive digital future.
