Today, 22 June 2026, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (the Ombudsman), together with the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia and in cooperation with the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, organised a consultation entitled ‘Digital Environment and Children’s Rights: Between New Opportunities and Risks’. Held at the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, the event brought together experts from various fields, as well as representatives of state institutions, the education system, civil society and young people themselves.

The consultation aimed to initiate a broader discussion on the impact of the digital environment on the lives of children and adolescents, and how digital technologies can support, rather than undermine, the realization of their rights. For the Ombudsman, this is not merely an issue of education, health or technology, but above all a human rights issue. The digital environment is now one of the main spaces in which children exercise their rights to information, education, expression, participation, play and development. Standards for the protection of human rights and children’s rights must therefore also apply in the digital world.

In her opening address, the Human Rights Ombudswoman of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, stressed that children’s rights apply in the digital environment too, and that it should not be viewed solely as a source of risk. ‘For some young people, it is a source of support, connection and information, providing access to knowledge, assistance, play, creativity, cultural life, expression and participation in society. For others, however, it may also be a source of pressure, exclusion or harmful experiences,’ she said. She emphasized that the digital environment now plays a significant role in shaping the everyday lives of children and adolescents. ‘Learning, play, creativity, social interaction, seeking information, expressing opinions and building relationships all take place there. This is precisely why the digital environment is also a space in which children’s rights are realized – or may be threatened,’ she noted. Referring to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, she said that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children. She emphasized that children must be protected from violence, abuse and harmful influences in the digital environment while having access to information, education, support, play and other content that is important for their development.

She specifically referred to General Comment No. 25 of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which establishes that children’s rights apply equally in the digital environment. States must therefore ensure that digital technologies support children’s development, well-being, and enjoyment of their rights while putting effective safeguards in place against violence, exploitation, invasions of privacy, discrimination, and other forms of harm. ‘The task of the state and all responsible actors — including schools, public authorities, regulators, professional services, civil society and digital companies that design the services, platforms and algorithmic systems with which children interact daily — is not merely to impose restrictions, but above all to create an environment in which children can safely and meaningfully exercise their rights,’ she stressed. As a society, we must protect children’s rights wherever they spend a significant part of their daily lives, including online.

The issue of age restrictions for children’s access to social media, and how such measures could be effectively and proportionately implemented in a way that is consistent with children’s rights, is also being raised increasingly. In her opening remarks, Jerneja Turin, Deputy Head of the Center for Human Rights at the Ombudsman, emphasized that these are not simple debates. ‘The digital environment offers children and young people many opportunities, but also many risks. It provides access to knowledge, information, creativity, play, expression and connection. At the same time, it raises questions concerning safety, health, privacy, manipulative design, algorithms, online violence, and its impact on children’s development. That is why today’s consultation is dedicated to examining these issues comprehensively, from different perspectives, and above all with children in mind as rights holders,’ she said.

Marko Lotrič, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, emphasized in his speech that today’s consultation is one of the most important discussions of our time. He emphasized that the state, schools, parents and technology companies must ensure safe conditions for using digital tools. ‘If we have a duty as a society to protect children on the street, at school and on the playground, then we also have a duty to protect them in the digital environment,’ he said, calling for the creation of an environment in which children can be safe, free, included and capable of facing the challenges they will encounter on their path to adulthood.

Mojca Škrinjar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, emphasized the importance of digital competence, including digital literacy, the ability to critically assess information, communicating safely and responsibly, and caring for digital well-being. She stressed that, in an era of rapid technological development, knowing how to ask the right questions is often more important than knowing the answers.

Darja Groznik, President of the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, emphasized the need to strike a balance between being ‘connected’ and ‘disconnected’. She expressed concern about children’s early exposure to screens, the growing incidence of online peer violence, and the fact that children experiencing psychological distress are increasingly turning to chatbots for support. She emphasized that children still primarily need safety, love, socialization and opportunities for well-rounded development in the real world.

In a video address, Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that children’s exposure to harmful online content is unacceptable and requires carefully considered solutions. He emphasized the importance of broad social dialogue, the responsibility of digital platforms, and involving children in discussions about measures that affect their well-being. However, he noted that banning access to social media until a certain age would interfere with children’s right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive information. He likened such a ban to preventing children from entering a library simply because it contains some books that are not suitable for them.

Participants agreed that digital technologies now play a significant role in shaping how children and adolescents grow up. Smartphones, social media, video games and other digital platforms provide new opportunities for learning, creativity, collaboration and access to information. However, research in Slovenia and across Europe also highlights numerous risks. Young people are increasingly exposed to online violence, hate speech, inappropriate content, manipulative algorithms and social media pressures that affect self-image and mental health.

The central question of the consultation was therefore how to create a digital environment that supports, rather than undermines, the rights of children and young people. This requires striking a balance between protecting them from risks and ensuring they have access to information, can express themselves, participate, learn and be creative. The discussion showed that there are no simple answers, as measures aimed at protecting children must be carefully designed and proportionate to avoid digital exclusion.

During the first panel discussion, participants explored how growing up is changing in the age of screens, the implications for children’s rights, and potential solutions. Psychologist and lecturer Sara Isaković warned that today’s interactive technologies exploit the neurobiological vulnerability of children resulting from their still-developing prefrontal cortex, which makes them more susceptible to manipulation and potential addiction. She stressed the importance of prevention and education, noting that it becomes more difficult to correct mistakes as children grow older.

Robert Tekavec, Head of the Juvenile Crime Department at the General Police Directorate and someone who has been dealing with online violence against children for the past fifteen years, warned that the situation is more serious today than ever before. Based on his experience, he said that children are extremely vulnerable online. ‘Every month, we receive at least five reports from YouTube involving children aged six or seven — and even three — posting nude videos of themselves,’ he said, stressing that urgent action is needed. He added that many of the most serious offences in this area are committed by peers, as children without a social network in the real world will often do almost anything to be accepted.

Ajda Petek, representing the Safe.si awareness point for the safe use of the internet, pointed out that children can easily bypass age-verification mechanisms. She explained that their main motivation for joining social media platforms is peer influence — they want to be where their peers are. Many are aware that these platforms are not suitable for them, yet they still accept unlawful content because they do not want to be excluded.

Martin Hari, Head of the Digital Services Sector at the Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia, emphasized the importance of the Digital Services Act and the development of age-verification applications.

Marijana Kolenko, Principal of Lava Primary School in Celje, stated that children are starting school already addicted to the digital environment. ‘We have never encountered so many negative emotions as we do today. We are also observing a significant decline in young people’s cognitive abilities, including reading literacy,’ she said. She also highlighted the exclusion of young people from peer environments, the increase in peer violence, and the profound loneliness experienced by many young people, despite the positive effects of technology.

The panellists agreed that everyone shares responsibility for protecting children in the digital environment, including parents, educational institutions, regulators, professional services, civil society, digital companies, and the children themselves, who must learn the necessary skills for safe digital engagement. However, according to Sara Isaković, the greatest responsibility lies with the platforms that profit from exploiting children and society as a whole. Despite being aware that some content is addictive, harmful to mental health and even illegal in certain cases, these platforms actively promote it through their algorithms.

The discussion also addressed the current debate on possible age restrictions for social media use and whether such measures would effectively protect children or instead risk their digital exclusion.

An important part of the consultation was dedicated to hearing the views of children and young people. The Ombudsman ensured that young people participated in the discussion as rights holders and important interlocutors in shaping solutions, not merely symbolically. In a dedicated panel, young participants shared their experiences, views, and proposals. Mark Dragaš from the Secondary School Students’ Organisation of Slovenia; Tanita Čamdžić, Vice-President of the Youth Council of Slovenia for Youth Work and Non-Formal Education; Ana Prelec and Ivana Klemenčič from the Children’s Parliament; and Brina Namurš, a secondary school student involved in the Children’s World project and a UNICEF Junior Ambassador. Sergej Golubović from the Secondary School Students’ Organisation of Slovenia moderated the discussion, guiding the conversation on safety, responsibility, and the role of social media in young people's lives. The shared message of the panel was that young people must be involved in designing solutions, as they know the digital world best.

During the discussion, the young participants emphasized that, while the digital world offers numerous benefits for communication, learning and maintaining relationships, it also exposes them to online violence, peer pressure, hateful content and challenges related to the responsible use of technology. Most speakers agreed that prohibitions are not the right solution. Instead, they stressed the importance of prevention, education and strengthening digital competencies, as well as increasing the accountability of digital platforms. The young participants identified Snapchat and TikTok as the social media platforms they considered most harmful.

• Ana Prelec, a ninth-grade pupil and member of the Children’s Parliament, explained that her phone enables her to keep in touch with friends and relax, but she also sees a lot of rudeness and negative messages on social media. ‘Children need social interaction and opportunities to develop communication skills, not smartphones or tablets,’ she said.
• Brina Namurš, a secondary school student and UNICEF Junior Ambassador, warned of the dangers of meeting strangers online, pointing out that young people often only understand risks in theory. She added that younger generations are receiving smartphones at increasingly early ages, and that online communication is becoming more hostile.
• Mark Dragaš from the Secondary School Students’ Organisation of Slovenia presented the findings of a survey on peer violence which showed that much of it takes place through messaging platforms and online channels. For this reason, the organization is advocating reducing phone use in schools, particularly secondary schools, where even higher levels of online violence are being observed.
• Ivana Klemenčič, an eighth-grade pupil, highlighted that online violence frequently takes the form of offensive comments that individuals would never make face-to-face. Regarding a possible ban on social media use until the age of sixteen, she predicted that young people would quickly find ways to circumvent the rules.
• Tanita Čamdžić from the Youth Council of Slovenia emphasized the link between online violence and mental health challenges faced by young people, as well as the need for shared responsibility among all stakeholders. She believes that the solution lies in prevention, raising awareness and holding platforms more accountable, rather than in prohibitions. ‘We do not support banning social media use; we support prevention and greater responsibility on the part of digital platforms,’ she said. She also pointed out that digital literacy involves much more than merely knowing how to use technology.

The consultation concluded with closing reflections by the Human Rights Ombudswoman of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, and Branimir Štrukelj, President of the National Council Commission for Education, Culture, Science, Sport and Youth. He questioned whether states are still capable of restraining digital platform providers in their pursuit of profit.

Based on the findings and discussions, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia will prepare recommendations for improving policies and measures concerning the digital environment and children’s rights, which will be submitted to the relevant decision-makers.