Youth Assembly Report on Digital Rights and Safety
In June 2023, the Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy brought together 35 young people from all across Canada to discuss how to improve online safety for themselves and future generations. This Youth Assembly on Digital Rights allowed them to connect with each other as well as academic experts and policymakers on how to promote the safety, well-being, and flourishing of Canadian youth online.
In a CTV News Winnipeg interview, Deputy Director of the Centre, Sonja Solomun says, "What is very important to them is the commercial exploitation of their data. They want greater protections and control over their own data and their own experiences online."
The recommendations in this report aim to fundamentally empower youth to have more control over their online experiences. They call for greater transparency from online platforms and stricter regulations to hold them accountable. They also suggest default privacy settings for minors and the enforcement of age verification measures. Importantly, they emphasize the need for young people to have a say in the decisions that shape internet policies.
