Global Child Forum Launches ‘Listen Up!’ – Putting Young Voices at the Centre of Digital Wellbeing

Global Child Forum is proud to announce the launch of Listen Up! Advancing Digital Wellbeing for Children and Youth, a new initiative and collaboration with telecom leaders Telia, Tele2, Orange and Vodafone, designed to ensure that young people’s voices shape the digital environments that impact them. 

Children and youth are among the most active users of digital technology—but their voices are rarely heard in conversations that shape their online experiences. Listen Up! aims to address this gap by directly connecting the digital industry with young people, ensuring their needs, concerns, and ideas guide the creation of safer and healthier online environments.

“Digital spaces affect every part of a young person’s life. We can’t build them responsibly without asking young people what they need,” says Ekin Björstedt, Secretary General at Global Child Forum. “Listen Up! is here to change how the industry listens—and responds.”

From words to action

Listen Up! was born out of conversations at the 2024 Global Child Forum at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Leading actors in the industry expressed a need to not only listen to children, but also to each other. Recognising the global nature of digital challenges, Global Child Forum invited industry leaders to transform dialogue into concrete action, beginning with youth consultations in key international markets.

“As an industry, we have the reach to create positive impacts for millions of people. This is both an exciting opportunity and a shared responsibility,” says Ola Rembe, Telia Company SVP and Head of Communication, Brand & Sustainability. “Telia has a long-term engagement in children’s digital wellbeing. By working with peers through Listen Up!, we can act on the latest insights and continue supporting healthy online lives for everyone.”

The initiative’s key objectives include:

• Conducting youth consultations across Europe, Africa, and other global regions.
• Delivering actionable insights for businesses to address digital safety and wellbeing.
• Establishing a collaborative platform for companies, researchers, and policymakers.
• Ensuring a shared commitment to listening and responding to young people’s perspectives.

The goal is to deliver real insights to help companies, governments, and civil society create digital ecosystems that protect and empower young users.

“Vodafone believes that being online is a powerful and enriching part of modern life, but we need to listen to children and young people to ensure they stay both safe and empowered whenever they connect. That’s why we’re proud to support Global Child Forum’s groundbreaking Listen Up! initiative that places lived experiences and young people’s voices at the heart of digital wellbeing for youth,” says Joakim Reiter, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone Group.

An open call to the industry

With initial partnerships already established with leading telecom operators, and with the support of the Prince Couple’s Foundation, Global Child Forum extends an open invitation for additional telecom operators and digital industry leaders to join Listen Up! and participate in global youth consultations.

Collaborate with us in designing a safer, healthier digital world for generations to come.

More information regarding the initiative can be found here, or by contacting:

Filippa Bergin
Head of Strategy, Impact and Growth
+46 70 00 92 74 21
filippa.bergin@globalchildforum.org

Linda Ravin Lodding
Head of Communications
+46 72 387 0248
linda.lodding@globalchildforum.org