Topic: 2025 – Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
Country: France
Delegate Name: Jackson Harlan
Country: France
Delegate: Jackson Harlan
School: Williamston High School
Committee: Economic and Social Council: Human Rights Council
Topic: Protecting and Empowering Youth in Digital Spaces
In the past few decades, the online world has grown from simple computer games and limited emailing and messaging to endless online platforms. This expanse of knowledge and communication has been passed down to today’s youth, allowing many of them free range in the vast online world. This generation raises the question of how youth access in digital spaces be taught in a way that protects and empowers them. They are constantly facing challenges unique to the online world such as cyberbullying, harassment, inappropriate content, privacy invasions, and extremist content. As these issues have unfolded, new ways to combat them have emerged. One of these solutions is the promotion of education and media literacy. This is reflected in The Child Protection Initiative presented by the specialized UN agency, International Telecommunication Union. They have aimed to educate invested parties, such as social media platforms, on how to create a safe and empowering environment for today’s youth.
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly increased the percentage of adolescents using online platforms, prompting France to take action. Their media literacy programs allowed their citizens’ internet skills to be above the European Union (EU) average. Their media literacy programs have years of foundation, resulting in France having one of the highest number of media literacy programs in the world. As of 2023, 15-year-olds and under are banned from creating social media accounts in France. France’s attempts to integrate this policy into the EU have been met with pushback as it does not align with the EU’s Digital Services Act. Despite these struggles France has attempted to push forward for the benefit of the youth.
France realizes the unique nature and urgency of this issue and encourages other nations to join them in creating safe and empowering online environments for adolescents. While there may be many difficulties in a complete ban of social media for adolescents under 15, the benefits outweigh these struggles. The implementation of these restrictions is a start, however they are not the only strategy to address this issue. One of the most essential resources is education. Older generations are often unaware of the risks of online platforms, resulting in few restrictions for their children. It is essential to create educational resources not just for the youth, but also for the people raising them to fully create a safe online environment. These programs will highlight the issues of cyberbullying, privacy, sex exploitation, and human trafficking. Spreading awareness, while also outlining how to communicate expectations and providing adolescent safe online platforms is essential to provide protection and empowerment. Moving forward all nations must ensure they work with urgency to create safe and empowering spaces for today’s youth. France would be interested in working alongside other EU countries as well as any UN nation recognizing the severity of this issue.
Works Cited
EUtoday. “Paris advocates a “digital majority” age of 15 as concerns over youth mental health grow.” EU Today, 2024, https://eutoday.net/paris-advocates-a-digital-majority-age-of-15-as-concerns-over-youth-mental-health-grow/. Accessed 17 Nov 2025.
Haeck, Pieter. “France doubles down on age minimum of 15 for social media use.” Politico.eu, 26 November 2024, https://www.politico.eu/article/france-doubles-down-on-social-media-age-limit-at-15/. Accessed 24 November 2025.
ITU. “About ITU.” ITU, https://www.itu.int/en/about/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 17 November 2025.
United Nations. “Child and Youth Safety Online | United Nations.” the United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/child-and-youth-safety-online. Accessed 24 November 2025.
