Designing a safer digital world for kids has emerged as a significant technical and ethical challenge as the first generation of children born after 2013 reaches maturity within fully immersive digital ecosystems. According to data from UNICEF, one-third of global internet users are younger than 18, yet these digital environments were largely built for adults, optimized for engagement rather than the developmental needs of young users. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is now prioritizing this issue, moving beyond abstract policy debates to address online safety as a core engineering challenge requiring systems thinking and ethical foresight.
As technology has historically moved faster than governance, policymakers in regions including Australia, Brazil, the European Union, Indonesia, and the United States are working to address risks such as addictive features, opaque data practices, and algorithmic systems that may influence behavior in ways creators did not fully anticipate. IEEE President and CEO Mary Ellen Randall, who addressed these concerns in the June 2026 print issue of the organization’s publication, emphasized that design choices are never neutral and carry significant weight when the user is a child.
Global Regulatory Shifts and Design Reform
Governments are increasingly embedding age-appropriate digital design into their children’s rights agendas, a move intended to shift digital systems away from engagement-centric models. The European Union and the United Kingdom have been early actors in this space, while other nations are following suit by adopting specific regulatory frameworks. Indonesia, for instance, has become the first country in Asia to adopt age-appropriate design regulation, and Brazil holds the distinction of being the first in Latin America to do so. In Australia, efforts are focused on limiting access to harmful content and addictive design features through age-based restrictions on certain platforms. Meanwhile, in the United States, legislative approaches to age-appropriate design principles are being enacted at the state level, with California, New York, and Utah identified as key jurisdictions pursuing these standards.
Engineering Ethical Foundations for Youth
For more than a decade, the IEEE has worked to build the technical and ethical foundations necessary for safer digital experiences. A major milestone occurred in 2021 with the introduction of the first IEEE standard on age-appropriate design, which provides a structured approach for engineers to incorporate children’s rights into the development process. The organization’s 2022 article, “Use a New IEEE Standard to Design a Safer Digital World for Kids,” serves as a practical guide for translating these principles into engineering practice.
Today, the IEEE Standards Association’s (SA) Trustworthy Digital Experiences portfolio offers a technically grounded framework for both industry and government stakeholders. This portfolio covers critical areas including:
- Ethical design principles
- Data governance practices
- Algorithmic transparency
- Child-focused digital well-being
This framework is designed to bridge the gap between engineering realities and the ambitions of policymakers who may otherwise lack access to the cross-disciplinary expertise required to address these complex issues effectively.
Collaborative Governance and Future Directions
The path toward a safer digital environment requires more than just content filtering or parental controls; it demands a rethink of how data is collected and how AI-driven interfaces interact with developing minds. During a recent visit to Athens, IEEE leadership met with senior members of Greek government agencies and national research institutions to discuss digital modernization and responsible technology governance. These discussions reinforced the IEEE’s role as a neutral collaborator in the European ecosystem, opening new pathways for international cooperation on trustworthy AI and digital well-being.
By grounding national efforts in evidence-based, rights-aligned design principles, the IEEE aims to help governments move from reactive regulation to proactive, coherent strategies. As public policy continues to evolve to catch up with rapid technological advancement, the focus remains on ensuring that digital systems respect children’s rights and support healthy development. Professionals and stakeholders interested in the ongoing development of these standards are encouraged to contact the IEEE office at [email protected] to share their perspectives on the future of child-focused digital design.
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