Let’s go back to the 90s. The Internet was just beginning to be installed in homes. Turning on a computer took several minutes, enough time to make a cup of coffee. Mobile phones were limited to sending SMS and making calls, with “missed calls” being the trend of the moment. Social networks were taking their first steps, available only in their web version.
If someone had told us back then that in the near future we would have laptops that were thinner than the thickness of a finger, buttonless mobile phones that could connect to the Internet in seconds from anywhere, and social networks that would completely transform social dynamics, we would probably have thought that person was narrating the plot of a science fiction movie. However, what was unimaginable has become reality, and has done so at breakneck speed.
Although the creation of this digital environment was not designed with the participation of minors in mind, the new generations have grown up immersed in this transformation. In addition, the widespread use of digital devices and services from an early age has led to an intuitive use by children. However, intuitive use does not necessarily mean critical and intelligent use of the content, services or interactions they encounter online.
The lack of consideration for minors in the design of the digital environment and the absence of the notion of responsible use in their learning makes them particularly vulnerable to the risks of the digital environment, which can ultimately affect their psychological, cognitive and social development.
Telefónica’s commitment to the protection of minors
The past year has been marked by debates on the protection of minors online. Actors from the public, private and civil society sectors have developed various proposals and initiatives to promote a safe digital environment for children.
At Telefónica we understand the importance of acting on the challenge of protecting children online, as well as our responsibility to positively impact their future development in the digital age
Telefónica has been actively involved in creating a safe digital environment for children for two decades. The company’s commitment began in 2005 with its participation in the conference organised by the European Commission on the risks of mobile use by minors, which ended with the GSME (predecessor of the GSMA, of which Telefónica is a member) taking responsibility and subsequently signing the “Framework Agreement on Safer Mobile Use by Children”. In the following years, Telefónica joined the “CEO Coalition to create a better and safer internet for children” led by the European Commission, which involved the implementation of various actions over the following 18 months. In addition, the industry voluntarily signed the self-regulatory code of “ICT Principles for the safe use of connected devices and online services for children and young people in the EU”.
Telefónica is currently a member of the GSMA’s Mobile Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Content and blocks child sexual abuse content following the guidelines of the Internet Watch Foundation. In addition, we collaborate with the Global Child Forum to protect children’s digital rights. At the same time, it offers resources, training actions and programmes to minors, families and teachers in collaboration with public bodies to raise awareness and educate on the importance of responsible use of technology, as well as tools that promote the protection of minors.
Telefónica’s proposal for a safe digital environment for minors
Telefónica’s experience over the last two decades gives it the expertise to contribute to a safe digital environment for children.
In order to propose effective solutions to overcome the challenges of protecting children online, it is first necessary to identify and understand them. We have therefore carried out an analysis of the different risks faced by children, grouping them into five categories for ease of understanding: (1) children’s access to inappropriate, harmful or offensive content; (2) children’s vulnerability in online interactions; (3) the impact of social media; (4) the distribution of underage sexual content online; and (5) the irresponsible use of digital devices in the classroom.
Telefónica proposes to address these challenges from the perspective of responsible design and use. With this approach, we offer a decalogue of principles to guide actions to create a safe digital environment for minors.
We are facing a major challenge that requires collective action. It is crucial that all stakeholders are aware of the importance of ensuring a secure digital environment and take responsibility according to their activity and impact.
Telefónica is committed to continuing the awareness-raising and training initiatives that we have been developing for years, as well as to continuing to innovate in our digital solutions to improve the protection of minors in the digital environment. Together we can build a safe digital environment for minors.
