Topic: 2025 – Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Charlotte Trost
Human Rights Council (HRC)
Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
Thailand
Charlotte Trost
Since the advent of the Internet, concerns have arisen about protecting user safety. In recent times, people have become increasingly focused on the best ways to both empower and protect young people in a digital environment, as the majority of internet users are, in fact, teenagers and young adults. Multiple authorities have launched initiatives with legal frameworks that aim to further protect youth users from problems like cyberbullying, inappropriate contact with strangers, harmful content, and mental health issues.
In early 2019, the Global Disrupting Harm Project was launched, aiming to research online statistics and figure out a way to help protect young people on the internet. Thailand was one of the 13 countries that conducted research revolving around child sexual abuse and exploitation. It recommended law enforcement for the situation, along with promoting the overall capacity of law enforcement to help counter online crime and threats. This is very important since an estimated 94% of Thailand’s population between the ages of 12 and 17 is online.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has teamed up with multiple social media platforms to raise awareness regarding the evident problem of cyberbullying online. On top of that, numerous resources help to give advice and help youth deal with cyberbullying. UNICEF further helps youth online safety by preventing sexual exploitation in over 20 countries.
Thailand believes that this is a serious topic and problem, and that is why the country has been consistently working to protect youth in digital spaces. This past March, Thailand’s Cabinet proposed and passed the Criminal Code Amendment, which introduces severe penalties and consequences for online acts committed against children. Offenders can face massive fines and even jail time for committing online grooming, cyber stalking, cyberbullying, sexting, or sextortion. These new laws and their punishments will greatly help to protect youth users of the internet.
“About.” ITU, www.itu.int/en/cop/pages/about_cop.aspx. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
“Child and Youth Safety Online.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/global-issues/child-and-youth-safety-online. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
UNICEF, www.unicef.org/innocenti/media/4151/file/DH-Thailand-Report-2022.pdf. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
