Global Child Forum
Company Initiative
The digital world wasn’t built for youth—It’s time to change that
Children and youth spend more time online than ever—learning, socialising, and exploring. Yet, digital spaces aren’t built with them in mind.
While technology opens doors, it also exposes young users to risks like cyberbullying, privacy violations, and harmful content.
Despite being at the heart of the digital world, their voices are left out of the decisions that shape it.
When young people are heard, policies and products become safer, smarter, and more effective. It’s time to stop designing for them—and start creating with them.
Shaping a safer digital future
ListenUp! is a company initiative led by Global Child Forum to ensure the digital world is safer, more inclusive, and designed with young people—not just for them.
Together with our ListenUp! partners, Orange, Tele2, Telia Company and Vodafone, we are calling on mobile operators, social media platforms, academic experts, and children’s rights organisations to commit to listening directly to children and youth—ensuring their experiences shape the solutions they create.
Technology and Telecommunications companies influence children’s daily lives worldwide, and their participation can make a real difference in creating a healthier, safer digital experience for all young users.
Companies need to ListenUp!
Young people are not just passive users of digital spaces—they must be active participants in shaping them. Through ListenUp!, we are making sure their voices drive real change.
Join the movement today
Now is the time to prioritise a safer digital world
Want to know more about the company initiative?
ListenUp! Advancing Digital Wellbeing for Children and Youth is a company initiative committed to making the digital world safer and more inclusive for young people.
Led by Global Child Forum, it brings together mobile operators, social media platforms, academic experts, and children’s rights organisations to drive real change.
Driving positive change together
Born from the discussions at the Global Child Forum at the Royal Palace, Stockholm, in October 2024, ListenUp! is the result of a collaboration between Global Child Forum and influential telecommunications and technology leaders.
The initiative builds on the momentum of ongoing efforts to place children’s rights at the heart of digital innovation, engaging key stakeholders to create meaningful change.
Youth participation and collaboration
Unlike many industry initiatives, ListenUp! puts children at the centre.
Companies involved commit to listening directly to young people, ensuring that their needs, voices, and lived experiences shape digital policies, products, and services.
These companies influence the daily lives of millions of children globally—their participation and commitment can make a real impact on youth wellbeing online.
Uncovering valuable insights
We want to ensure that young people have a seat at the table when decisions about their digital lives are made. In partnership with telecom operators and youth-focused organisations, Global Child Forum will conduct annual youth consultations across multiple markets.
The insights developed and collated by the initiative will help industry leaders, policymakers, and civil society better understand how to enable digital wellbeing for children and youth. By fostering collaboration and shared responsibility, the company initiative will pave the way for industry-wide improvements in online safety, mental health, and digital empowerment.
By harnessing the voices of young people and equipping them with the tools to advocate for their digital rights, ListenUp! is setting a new standard for youth participation in shaping the online world.
ListenUp! Advancing Digital Wellbeing for Children and Youth offers both businesses, and youth as a stakeholder group, a range of unique opportunities and benefits.
For Children and Youth
For Companies
Children and youth spend more time online than any previous generation—yet their voices are missing from critical decisions shaping the digital world.
ListenUp! ensures they are heard.
We’re calling for Tech and Telecom child rights champions
The company initiative, ListenUp!, brings together pioneering telecom operators, social impact organisations, investors, and experts in children’s rights and digital wellbeing.
Interested in joining the initiative?
We want to hear from you!
Our team is ready to answer your questions. Reach out to us here.
Join the company initiative
If you represent a Technology and Telecommunications business and are interested in taking part in the company initiative, ListenUp! Advancing Digital Wellbeing for Children and Youth, simply contact us with your company details and suggested participant names and roles.
Our team will get back to you as soon as possible!
Elizabeth Tchoungui
Executive Vice President CSR, Orange
Engaging youth to create a safer online experience
We believe that children need to be identified as stakeholders in their own right.Read our interview with Elizabeth Tchoungui
Become a Project Partner
We understand the value of bringing together experts and business leaders to solve the most critical challenges facing children today.
As a Global Child Forum Project Partner, you can sponsor and develop a tailor-made initiative or tool to positively impact children’s lives, while boosting your organisational knowledge of the issues.
Click below to find out more about the great benefits of partnering with us.
Do you have questions about ListenUp! Advancing Digital Wellbeing for Children and Youth, which are not addressed on this page?
Sara Garmer, Head of Business Development, at Global Child Forum, is ready to provide further information or help you join the company initiative.
Report
As part of the first phase of ListenUp!, 93 teenagers from 8 countries participated in focus groups to share their views on the technology of today – how it impacts their daily lives, relationships, learning, and sense of self.Find out what they had to say.
Read the report