Protecting Children in a Digital Age: New Guidelines Proposed by Experts
The impact of digital technology on children has become a growing concern among experts, prompting a committee of 50 independent individuals to propose a series of measures aimed at protecting minors in the online environment. The committee, at the request of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, has submitted a comprehensive report to the Council of Ministers that outlines 107 proposed measures, categorized into short, medium, and long-term strategies.
One of the most striking recommendations is to delay exposure to digital devices until the age of 6. The committee advises that children under 3 should not be exposed to any digital devices, and between the ages of 3 and 6, such exposure should only occur when necessary and under adult supervision. Additionally, adults are encouraged to limit their own use of digital devices when in the presence of children in this age group.
For children aged 6 to 12, the report recommends prioritizing real-world activities, like sports and outdoor adventures, over time spent on internet-connected devices. When these devices are used, adult supervision is mandatory, and access to content should be age-appropriate. As children move into their teenage years, aged 12 to 16, the experts advocate for the implementation of parental control tools to monitor and manage device usage, ensuring that mobile phones should not be provided for network access until the age of 16.
The committee also called for the technology industry to install parental control tools by default on devices and to ensure that packaging includes warnings about the potential health risks associated with digital device usage. Furthermore, the guidelines suggest implementing more stringent regulations on content creators, particularly those who influence young audiences, prohibiting minors from being featured in influencer content altogether.
In educational settings, suggestions include banning devices in early childhood and primary education while limiting their use in secondary education, with an emphasis on ensuring that any educational devices are age-appropriate and devoid of features that can lead to instant gratification, like gaming systems.
The overarching aim of these measures is to create a safer digital environment for children, which includes expanding research on the effects of technology usage among youth and promoting awareness campaigns that educate families about the responsible use of digital devices.
Government spokesperson Pilar AlegrÃa heralded this report as a pioneering effort towards establishing a national strategy for safe digital environments. She emphasized that many of the proposed measures, including 35 of the 107, are already incorporated in the draft organic law focusing on the protection of minors in digital contexts. With the Ministry of Youth and Childhood expected to present this draft to the Council of Ministers, the potential for significant shifts in how digital devices are regulated for minors is on the horizon.
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