UNICEF understands the concerns of governments and welcomes the fact that children's online safety is finally being taken seriously, although a complete ban on access to the digital world is not feasible today. Children are exposed to real risks in the digital environment every day, but age restrictions alone are not the solution.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the head of the UNICEF office in Montenegro. Mike Servadei, on the occasion of World Safer Internet Day.
"UNICEF's position is that children need three things: platforms that are safe by design, with age-appropriate content and appropriate filters, clear rules that hold social networks and IT companies accountable, and systems that provide support to families and schools. Without this, the entire burden is shifted solely to parents and children - and this is neither fair nor effective," Servadei said.
The bill on the protection of minors in the digital space, which is a member of parliament from the Socialist People's Party Sladana Kaludjerovic submitted to the Parliament, provides for a ban on access to digital platforms for children under 13 years of age, mandatory parental consent for those aged 13 to 16, and, among other things, strict obligations for platforms that use artificial intelligence.
Deutsche Welle reported yesterday that the European Union has voted in favor of introducing a minimum age for social media and that several European countries, including Denmark, France, Italy, and Greece, are planning to ban social media for children under 15 or 16.
"A complete ban on access to the digital world for minors is not even feasible today. In addition, access to the digital world is crucial for learning and development. What we urgently need is the regulation of social networks and the digital space, so that content is age-appropriate, children's privacy and rights are respected, and parents and guardians are empowered to manage the content and time children spend online," believes Servadei.
Any law, he argues, should go beyond age restrictions alone and provide stronger accountability for platforms, better protection of children's rights, and real support for families, schools, and young people.
"The focus should always be on building a system that truly protects children, not just on symbolic measures," he said.
Servadei points out that, according to a 2024 World Health Organization study, around 11 percent of adolescents in Europe use social media in a problematic way. This, he argues, shows that the ability to self-control online varies significantly depending on age, maturity, and role models in the environment.
"Therefore, the solution is not simply to exclude children from the digital world. The digital space must be designed in a way that supports children's development, protects their well-being and respects their rights," he said.
Servadei says that bans alone cannot solve the problem, which is systemic, which is why UNICEF calls for clearly defined responsibilities of the state, companies, and parents, as well as clear rules that truly protect children.
This specifically means that, first of all, laws must keep up with the way abuses occur on the internet today.
"All forms of sexual exploitation of children online must be effectively prosecuted - including abuse through live broadcasts and materials generated by artificial intelligence that depict child sexual abuse. These are serious crimes and the legislation must clearly recognize and sanction them. Secondly, children need easily accessible mechanisms for seeking help and reporting problems, both online and offline. Montenegro has a Children's SOS Line, but it is important to improve its visibility and accessibility for children. At the same time, professionals working with children, including the police, social workers and representatives of the judiciary, must have continuous training to respond in a child-safe manner, based on an understanding of child trauma and in accordance with how children actually use digital technologies. It is necessary to strengthen knowledge about children's rights and child development and thus enable children to truly be protected, not blamed, when problems arise," he stressed.
He also argues that technology companies must be held accountable, and platforms should be designed so that child safety, privacy, and user well-being are priorities from the very beginning.
“Finally, parents, teachers and communities need support. They need tools to recognize risks online, help children develop digital skills and stay safe in the long term. At the same time, children and young people need to be listened to and meaningfully involved, because policies work best when they reflect their real experiences, not just adults’ assumptions about the lives of children and young people today,” Servadei concluded.
Promote and fund initiatives
Servadei also believes that Montenegro already has a good foundation - the digital school platform, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and UNICEF, provides a safe digital environment and practical resources for teachers, parents and students.
“Also, the socio-emotional skills program ‘My virtues and values’, which is implemented with the support of UNICEF and in cooperation with the Institute for Education, is of key importance for raising awareness among children and improving their understanding of online risks,” he said. According to him, the parenting app ‘Bebbo’, also supported by UNICEF, along with live parenting programs, helps parents navigate healthy screen use and digital safety, and is reminiscent of the national SOS children’s helpline available 24 hours a day. However, he says that these initiatives need to be systematically expanded and adequately funded in order to have a real and sustainable impact.
Bonus video:
