Digital Policy Trends: Regulations, Interventions, and Policy Solutions

Abstract

This chapter provides a global perspective on policy trends affecting children’s participation in the digital environment. We examine the three interrelated policy fields of online harms, children’s privacy, and children as consumers, each of which has exhibited a shift away from self-regulation by industry toward obligations for digital service providers set by legislation and enforced by regulators. We review these trends through the lens of children’s rights and ask if these measures go far enough to protect children from online harms or sufficiently empower them with the necessary support to benefit from online opportunities. The chapter includes suggestions for future research and recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and educators focused on child-centered and rights-based approaches to policy development.