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Report of the fourth plenary meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on the risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management in the WHO European Region: virtual meeting, 5-6 December 2024

The fourth plenary meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE–IM) in...

Report of the twentieth annual meeting and fifteenth conference of HEPA Europe: Dublin, Ireland, 19–21 August 2024

The twentieth annual meeting of HEPA Europe, the European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity, took place within the framework...

Eleventh high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative: a focus on innovation, Bled, Slovenia, 11–13 May 2025

The Eleventh high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative (SCI), held in Bled, Slovenia, on 11–13 May 2025, brought together 14 countries...

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Making the WHO European Region the healthiest online environment for children: position statement

Overview

Children's lives are increasingly blended between the digital and physical worlds, intertwining virtual and real experiences in their daily routines. Ensuring online safety for children is becoming a growing concern within the WHO European Region.

Most children grow up with digital devices that give them constant access to the Internet. While this may bring benefits and open up possibilities, it can also allow significant harms for children’s development and physical and mental health.

This conference edition of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Position Statement on Making the WHO European Region the Healthiest Online Environment for Children aims to support governments in formulating consistent requests to online and technology companies, with the overall goal of securing healthy online environments in which children can thrive. The position paper addresses the need to protect all children up to the age of 18 from violence, exploitation and abuse; highlights the need to include children’s rights in all actions; and addresses privacy and data protection issues.

Consistent and transparent monitoring and evaluation are required to ensure proper implementation of mandatory legislation to protect children in the virtual world, as both mental and physical health can be harmed if appropriate precautions are not taken. The purpose of this document is to propose requests that should be made by the health sector and included in national discussions and development of online safety initiatives related to children’s well-being.

WHO Team
Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity (NAO)
COVID-19

COVID-19

WHO
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Making the WHO European Region the healthiest online environment for children: position statement

Overview

Children's lives are increasingly blended between the digital and physical worlds, intertwining virtual and real experiences in their daily routines. Ensuring online safety for children is becoming a growing concern within the WHO European Region.

Most children grow up with digital devices that give them constant access to the Internet. While this may bring benefits and open up possibilities, it can also allow significant harms for children’s development and physical and mental health.

This conference edition of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Position Statement on Making the WHO European Region the Healthiest Online Environment for Children aims to support governments in formulating consistent requests to online and technology companies, with the overall goal of securing healthy online environments in which children can thrive. The position paper addresses the need to protect all children up to the age of 18 from violence, exploitation and abuse; highlights the need to include children’s rights in all actions; and addresses privacy and data protection issues.

Consistent and transparent monitoring and evaluation are required to ensure proper implementation of mandatory legislation to protect children in the virtual world, as both mental and physical health can be harmed if appropriate precautions are not taken. The purpose of this document is to propose requests that should be made by the health sector and included in national discussions and development of online safety initiatives related to children’s well-being.

WHO Team
Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity (NAO)