The Far-reaching Impacts of Digital Technologies on Children

The far-reaching impacts of digital technologies on children

Products and services offered by the Technology & Telecommunications (T&T) sector impact children and teenagers in many different ways.

Technologies pose a risk to children’s mental health, while also offering incredible opportunities for learning and development.

Negative impacts frequently hit media headlines:

• Online safety and increased risks of predation and abuse
• Cyber bullying
• Exposure to inappropriate and potentially harmful content
• Sleep deprivation and addiction issues caused by excessive screen time

But digital technologies can also have positive impacts on young people:

Education is being transformed by powerful tools which support children’s learning styles and abilities.

From a social perspective, digital platforms can help children find a sense of community, expanding their horizons and enabling them to discover the world beyond their local environment.

Some T&T companies are going to notable lengths to understand the negative impacts, and improve their child rights approach.

Others, including some of the big household names, have much room for improvement.

Want to know more?

Read the Benchmark Report 2024 here.