The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, is a multistakeholder event that promotes dialogue among various representatives about internet governance. Attendees discussed the impact of algorithms on child safety, highlighting concerns that digital platforms can lead children to harmful content quickly. Speakers from organizations like UNICEF and the European Commission painted a dire picture, viewing the issue as a public health crisis emerging from algorithm-driven engagement. While some concerns are serious, the discussion suggests the need for a nuanced understanding of these challenges.
Algorithm-driven platforms are not just risky for children but downright engineered to harm them. A child can go from a simple search for slime to porn in just a single click, or from trampolining to pro-anorexia in just three clicks, and nudge to self-harm in 15 clicks.
Children are drawn into dangerous digital spaces by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, often at the expense of well-being. The landscape becomes a public health crisis.
Collection
[
|
...
]