At a Paris conference on Thursday, internet behemoths like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat joined numerous world leaders in issuing a global push to better protect children online. The call, which was launched by France and UNICEF, acknowledges that "children can come across harmful and violent content and information manipulation in the digital environment." Children, like adults, have the right to privacy, which must be respected."
Cyberbullying, sexual abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, and violent online radicalization were among the "threats magnified by technology" highlighted in the text. "We urge all governments, online service providers, and related groups to advocate for children's digital rights," it stated. Amazon, Google, and YouTube, Facebook and Instagram's parent firm Meta, Microsoft, Snapchat, and Twitter are among the signatories. Eight countries have joined the appeal,...